Teapigs Tea Temples
The "tea temple" pyramid is Soilon (PLA) mesh - a bioplastic marketed as plastic-free, complete with a Plastic-Free Trust Mark.
The verdict: Significant plastic contact
Teapigs' "tea temple" is made of Soilon, a PLA (cornstarch-derived) mesh, so the bag itself is bioplastic - a synthetic polymer steeped in hot water. To its credit Teapigs is upfront that the temples are NOT home-compostable and need industrial/council food-waste composting. But PLA is still a plastic that sheds micro- and nanoplastics when brewed, so a "plastic-free" claim - and the Plastic-Free Trust Mark the brand carries - is the greenwashing case study this category exists to flag, not a clean bill of health.
What it's made of
| Part | Material | Food contact |
|---|---|---|
| tea temple mesh Soilon - PLA (cornstarch-derived) mesh; the steeped bag is bioplastic | PLA polylactic acid, "bioplastic" | Yes primary 🔥 |
| label paper label; string is described as a plant-carbohydrate strand | Paper | No |
Teapigs sells whole-leaf tea in a roomy pyramid "temple" that shows off the ingredients. The brand leans hard on sustainability messaging, including a Plastic-Free Trust Mark on packaging.
Pros
- Whole-leaf tea with room to expand, and honest that the temples are not home-compostable
- PLA is plant-derived and industrially compostable, unlike a nylon/PET pyramid
Cons
- The temple is PLA - a bioplastic, so it is not plastic-free despite the "plastic-free" marketing and Trust Mark
- PLA only breaks down in an industrial composter, and still sheds micro/nanoplastics when steeped
Common questions
Does the Teapigs Tea Temples have plastic in it?
Yes. On the Teapigs Tea Temples, the tea temple mesh is plastic and sits in the food path.
What is the Teapigs Tea Temples made of?
Part by part, the Teapigs Tea Temples is: tea temple mesh — PLA; label — paper.
Categories: Tea Bags
Sources
Every material claim above is backed by these. This is the scattered info we centralized.
- manufacturer https://www.teapigs.co.uk/blogs/news/tea-temples-and-composting confirms the temple is Soilon/PLA and not home-compostable
- review https://www.teaandcoffee.net/news/19760/teapigs-awarded-plastic-free-trust-mark/ trade coverage of the Plastic-Free Trust Mark awarded to a PLA-temple product - the greenwashing tension
- review https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/some-plastic-your-tea-300919 McGill press release on Hernandez et al. 2019 - plastic pyramid bags shed billions of micro/nanoplastic particles per cup
Spot a mistake or something out of date? Let us know — corrections are how this stays accurate.