Soilon® is a trademark registered by Yamanaka Industry, Japan, for a mesh made from poly lactic acid (PLA). PLA is derived from starches by an enzyme and polymerization. The material was chosen for our teabags as it can be readily broken down by microorganisms in the soil, and doesn’t release any microplastics into your mug.

Microplastics are scarcely talked about when it comes to tea bags, although increasingly people are becoming aware of the danger that they pose. Many teas now use silken bags instead of paper. When the bags are steeped in hot water, they release billions of microplastic particles into the mug, each one the size of a grain of pollen. One study showed that one cup from a single tea bag could contain 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles.

“Traditional tea bags are often composed of a plastic compound called polypropene”, says Helen Lloyd. “While the research is still in early stages, polypropylene makes up to 25% of the old school bags, which could potentially harm humans when consumed, as well as releasing microplastics into the soil when disposed of.”

“We looked at this very carefully when the research began coming to light, and it was obvious to us that introducing a safe, environmentally friendly alternative was of a critical importance. As a result, our teabags are composed of a biodegradable plant based compound called Soilon®, meaning when you buy a box of Revolver tea, you can do so without worrying about microplastics.”

Luckily for our customers, CoopTea® is an award winning alternative for people looking to make positive decisions about their consumption. Whether it’s reducing your environmental footprint, supporting the Fairtrade movement or just making sure you’re not drinking microplastics, we’ve got you covered!