100% Compostable Packaging
The Metropolitan Tea Company is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability, which includes using compostable and biodegradable packaging materials. As a global business, we're aware of our impact on the world, and implement initiatives with the health of the planet in mind. The healthier the planet, the better the tea!
100% COMPOSTABLE PLANT-BASED PYRAMID TEA BAGS
Metropolitan and METZ pyramid tea bags are made from a plant-based compostable material called PLA, which stands for Polylactic Acid and is produced from the starches of corn, sugar cane, and cassava. They are are both commercially compostable and biodegradable. This has been our standard for the last 23 years. The tea bags by weight are 90% home compostable.
Made in House
The compostable pyramid tea bag material comes wound on large rolls. As it's pulled through our high-speed machine, ultrasonic technology (ultra-high vibration) precisely cuts and seals the tea bags at a speed of 200 per minute.
Our Compostable Plant-Based & Plastic-Free Tea Bag Material:
Woven: Thread is made from plant-based material and is then woven on a large loom. The translucent woven material shows off the luxury tea and ingredients inside. The pyramid shape also allows more room for full leaf steeping.
Non-Woven: The plant fibers are made into material using a process similar to making paper. The material is opaque and does not ‘show-off’ the luxury tea in the same manner as woven material.
String and Tag Option: Both the string and tag are made purely of plant-based and compostable materials.
100% COMPOSTABLE TEA BAG ENVELOPES
We are pleased to introduce, as of January 2023, our 100% compostable overwrap envelopes made from an all-new material comprising of organic compound base paper, compostable adhesive, PLA (polylactic acid) film and printed with inks that are also home compostable. All of our private label packing and METZ Luxury Tea bags are made to this standard. The tea envelopes by weight are 98% home compostable.
Certified Biobased Product:
As part of the USDA's BioPreferred Program our tea bag envelope material is certified Biobased. The envelope materials are third-party tested at independent laboratories to verify they are derived from raw materials, such as plants.
The program aims to reduce reliance on petroleum, increase the use of renewable agricultural resources, and contribute to reducing adverse environmental and health impacts.
100% COMPOSTABLE POUCHES
Our compostable pouches are made from natural plant starch. They break down readily in a composting system through microbial activity to create compost.
Certified Compostable:
The teabag material, string and tag materials are all certified commercially compostable based on the international standard ISO 14855 and the European standard EN 13432.