Innovia Films, U.K., has announced that Oregon, USA-based ECOTEAS is using its NatureFlexT (Atlanta, Ga., USA) packaging films in the wrappers of its individual tea bags. This flexible packaging material is derived from wood pulp sourced from managed plantations and is certified to be more than 90% bio-based and home and industrial compostable. High barriers to oxygen and moisture ensure the tea bags contained within are protected and kept fresh. When laminated to paper, the final structure offers the protection and natural appearance that ECOTEAS was looking for.

ECOTEAS received the Sustainable Food Trade Association's national "Responsible Packaging Award" in 2012 for the use of 100% post-consumer recycled paperboard in its cartons. This recognition led to continued development of the "greenest" tea packaging possible. To extend its sustainability efforts to the entire tea bag line, the company removed the tags, strings, and staples, and introduced the new tea bag overwraps. The result was a "100% Zero Waste" package, with all ingredients and packaging components suitable for composting (tea, filter paper, and wrapper) or recycling (carton). 

 

Stefan Schachter, founder and president of ECOTEAS, noted that "we believe business must be an engine for positive change. That's why we founded ECOTEAS in the first place. We want to do our part to eliminate the waste created by our society. We believe these steps are critical for the wellbeing of current and future generations."

Jake Hebert, Marketing Coordinator at Innovia Films , said that "we are proud to be working with brands that have a true passion for sustainability. NatureFlexT assists in ECOTEAS' mission to extend the ethos of their company to their packaging."