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Do Tea Bags Contain Microplastics? The Truth About Your Cup - Leaves of Leisure

Do Tea Bags Contain Microplastics? What to Know (And How to Avoid Them)

by Allie | Leaves of Leisure in Blog

If you drink tea from tea bags, there's a question worth asking: what is the bag itself made of? For many popular brands, the answer is plastic — and it doesn't stay in the bag.

The study that changed how we look at tea bags

In 2019, researchers at McGill University steeped plastic tea bags in 95°C water — normal brewing temperature — and measured what came out. The result: a single plastic tea bag released approximately 11.6 billion microplastic particles and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into one cup of tea. The worst offenders are tea bags made from nylon and polypropylene, including many of the silky "pyramid" style bags marketed as premium.

Even many paper tea bags aren't plastic-free: a thin layer of polypropylene is commonly used to heat-seal the edges, which means the bag can't be composted and can still shed plastic into your cup.

How to tell if your tea bags contain plastic

  • Silky, mesh, or "pyramid" bags are often nylon or PET — plastic, even when they look premium.
  • Heat-sealed paper bags (no staple, no string, edges fused together) usually rely on polypropylene to seal.
  • Check the brand's FAQ. Truly plastic-free brands say exactly what their bags are made of. Vague language like "plant-based" can still mean PLA, which only breaks down in commercial composting facilities.

What about PLA ("plant-based plastic") tea bags?

PLA, a corn-based polylactic acid, is a common upgrade from nylon — it's biodegradable, but only in industrial composting facilities that reach high temperatures. In your backyard compost (or a landfill), it behaves much more like regular plastic. It's a step in the right direction, but it's not the finish line.

What we use instead: BPI-certified corn mesh

At Leaves of Leisure, 100% of our tea bags are made from BPI-certified corn mesh — a material with zero microplastics that is fully compostable at home. When you're done steeping, the bag goes straight into your backyard compost. No special facilities, no plastic in your cup, no plastic in the soil.

The rest of the package follows the same principle: our teas come in beautiful keepsake paper canisters, and our refill pouches let you restock without buying a new canister at all.

Why this matters for what's in your cup

Research on the health effects of ingested microplastics is still developing, but the early signals — particles found in blood, lungs, and placentas — are enough that many people simply prefer not to drink billions of them with their evening tea. The good news: avoiding them is easy once you know what to look for.

The plastic-free tea checklist

  • ✅ Tea bag material named explicitly (corn mesh, abacá fiber, unbleached paper — not just "plant-based")
  • ✅ Certified compostable at home (look for BPI certification)
  • ✅ No heat-sealed polypropylene edges
  • ✅ Plastic-free outer packaging

Every Leaves of Leisure tea checks all four boxes — caffeine-free and low-caffeine herbal blends in plastic-free, home-compostable corn mesh bags. If you want to try before committing, our mini packs are an easy way to taste a blend for $4.99.

Sources: Hernandez et al., "Plastic Teabags Release Billions of Microparticles and Nanoparticles into Tea," Environmental Science & Technology (2019), McGill University.

Tags: herbal tea lifestyle microplastics plastic-free tea bags sustainability
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