Latest news with #UKPlasticsPact
Daily Mirror
25-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners should put tea bags on their plants but only if they do one thing first
Many of the top branded tea bags on sale today contain plastic - experts now say you should always rip open the bags and pour the raw tea leaves in directly when adding them to your compost heap Garden enthusiasts are being advised to pop teabags in their gardens this July - but only after tearing them open. Composting is a fantastic practice for your garden throughout the year, transforming kitchen waste like potato skins, carrot trimmings and banana peels into nutrient-rich compost that will supercharge your plants, resulting in larger, robust fruits and vegetables and healthier blooms. You can kick off a compost heap anywhere in your garden with a basic plastic bin, though there are pricier and more advanced alternatives available, including wooden composters, multi-opening 'hot bins' and various other stylish solutions. If you're watching the pennies, a simple plastic box or an old bin with a lid will suffice if you just drill some airholes for the plant bacteria to aid decomposition. However, those tossing teabags into their compost heaps have been warned to rip open the bags first and pour the raw tea leaves directly in. This is due to the fact that many of the leading teabag brands on the market today actually contain plastic, reports the Express. Numerous supermarket brands incorporate this in their teabags, which means they'll never decompose in your compost, leaving behind a plastic residue that could also taint your compost with leached plastic chemicals. Even plant-based teabags, such as those used by Yorkshire Tea, should be sliced open, with the bag disposed of separately, not in the compost bin. Yorkshire Tea has clarified its stance on tea bags, stating: "PLA tea bags are sometimes called 'plastic free', but we've never used that label and WRAP, the people behind the UK Plastics Pact, also advise against it because plant-based plastics are still plastics." They offer a tip for eco-conscious consumers: "You can snip open your used tea bags, compost the tea inside at home, and put the bag itself in your refuse bin. If you don't want to do that, the alternative is to put your tea bag in your refuse bin." Which?, the consumer advice magazine, sheds light on the issue: "Tea bags have traditionally been sealed with a plastic called polypropylene, which enables their edges to be heat sealed and stop them falling apart in hot water. Small amounts were used, but it prevented them being composted and, due to the enormous amount of tea bags used in the UK, it generated a large amount of plastic waste." For those looking to reduce their environmental footprint, the UK Tea & Infusions Association suggests: "The advice from the UK Tea & Infusions Association is to rip open the bags before placing the used tea leaves on your compost heap and dispose of the teabag paper separately in your bin where it will go into landfill."
Daily Record
23-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Householders urged to put ripped up teabags in garden this summer
Tea bags can be repurposed to benefit plants and flowers. In Britain, around 100 million cups of tea are drunk every day. For every brew made, comes a used tea bag. The majority of householders will typically throw out the used bag, however, experts are now urging householders to put them to good use. Instead of tossing it away, people should rip the bag open and scatter the contents in their gardens compost to help plants thrive. The common item can be repurposed to benefit plants and flowers, helping to reduce waste. Composting is a hugely beneficial thing to do for your garden all year round. It's an ideal way to turn your kitchen scraps like potato peel, carrot off-cuts and banana peel into rich, nutritious compost that will boost your plants. You can start a compost pile anywhere in your garden with a simple plastic bin, although more expensive and more sophisticated options are available, including wooden composters, multi-opening 'hot bins' and various other elegant solutions. On a budget, though, a simple plastic box or an old bin with a lid will do if you just add some air-holes for the plant bacteria to use to break down. But people adding teabags into their compost have been told you must tear open the bags first and pour the raw tea leaves in directly, reports the Express. Many supermarket brands use this in their teabags, which means they will never break down in your compost, leaving a plastic residue behind which will also contaminate your compost with leached plastic chemicals. Even plant-based teabags, such as those used by Yorkshire Tea, should be cut open, and the bag disposed of separately, not in the compost bin. Yorkshire Tea says: "PLA tea bags are sometimes called 'plastic free', but we've never used that label and WRAP, the people behind the UK Plastics Pact, also advise against it because plant-based plastics are still plastics. "You can snip open your used tea bags, compost the tea inside at home, and put the bag itself in your refuse bin. If you don't want to do that, the alternative is to put your tea bag in your refuse bin." Consumer advice magazine Which? explains: "Tea bags have traditionally been sealed with a plastic called polypropylene, which enables their edges to be heat sealed and stop them falling apart in hot water. Small amounts were used, but it prevented them being composted and, due to the enormous amount of tea bags used in the UK, it generated a large amount of plastic waste. "The advice from the UK Tea & Infusions Association is to rip open the bags before placing the used tea leaves on your compost heap and dispose of the teabag paper separately in your bin where it will go into landfill." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners warned to never put teabags in the bin without doing one thing first
Gardeners are being warned to never put teabags in their compost bin without doing one thing first - and it's all to do with the plastic that's in them Garden enthusiasts are being advised to put teabags in their garden this summer - but only if they tear them open first. Composting is a highly beneficial practice for your garden throughout the year, transforming your kitchen waste like potato peelings, carrot trimmings and banana skins into rich, nutritious compost that will enhance your garden plants and result in much larger, stronger fruits and vegetables as well as healthier flowers. You can initiate a compost heap anywhere in your garden with a simple plastic bin, although more costly and sophisticated options exist including wooden composters, multi-opening 'hot bins' and various other stylish solutions. READ MORE: Huge Amazon Prime Day sale slashes Coco & Eve's 'best tanner on the market' by 30% If you're on a budget, a basic plastic box or an old bin with a lid will suffice if you just add some airholes for the plant bacteria to utilise for decomposition. However, those adding teabags to their compost have been cautioned - you must rip open the bags first and pour the raw tea leaves directly in. This is due to the fact that many of the top branded teabags sold today actually contain plastic, reports the Express. Numerous supermarket brands use plastic in their teabags, which means they will never decompose in your compost, leaving behind a plastic residue which will also pollute your compost with leached plastic chemicals. Even plant-based teabags, such as those used by Yorkshire Tea, should be cut open, and the bag disposed of separately, not in the compost bin. Yorkshire Tea states: "PLA tea bags are sometimes called "plastic free", but we've never used that label and WRAP, the people behind the UK Plastics Pact, also advise against it because plant-based plastics are still plastics." Their instructions are to cut open used tea bags, compost the tea leaves at home, and dispose of the bag itself in your rubbish bin. Alternatively, you can simply put the whole tea bag in the rubbish. Consumer advice magazine Which? explains the issue with traditional tea bags: "Tea bags have traditionally been sealed with a plastic called polyproplene, which enables their edges to be heat sealed and stop them falling apart in hot water. "Small amounts were used, but it prevented them being composted and, due to the enormous amount of tea bags used in the UK, it generated a large amount of plastic waste." The recommended approach from the UK Tea & Infusions Association is to rip open the bags, place the used tea leaves on your compost heap, and dispose of the tea bag paper separately in your bin, where it will end up in landfill.
Fashion United
13-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
WRAP's Textiles 2030 becomes UK Textiles Pact
Textiles 2030, the UK's voluntary initiative supporting businesses and organisations within the fashion and textiles industry, will from now on be called the UK Textiles Pact. According to a press release by WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production), the climate action NGO behind the initiative, the move will 'bring the agreement in line' with WRAP's other flagship voluntary agreements, the UK Food & Drink Pact and the UK Plastics Pact. The goal remains the same, for the fashion and textiles industry to transition to more sustainable and circular practices by the end of the decade. UK Textiles Pact aligns with WRAP's other flagship voluntary agreements Concretely, signatories are committed to a 50 percent reduction in the overall carbon footprint and a 30 percent reduction in the overall water footprint of new textile products placed on the market. In addition, they envision industry collaboration to achieve Circularity Roadmap ambitions. 'For businesses, membership to the UK Textiles Pact unlocks interaction with WRAP's team of experts to help solve problems, plus gives access to evidence-based tools, practical resources and collaborative working groups to tackle urgent sustainability challenges facing the textiles sector. The UK Textiles Pact is a collaborative, non-competitive and trusted network underpinned by innovation, expertise and collective determination,' states Mark Sumner, the Pact's programme lead. According to the NGO, the UK Textiles Pact is a 'central member' in WRAP's wider Textiles Action Network, which unites national and regional textiles initiatives worldwide to exchange knowledge, share best practice and work collectively to put the textiles industry on a path to achieve net zero carbon emissions and ultimately transition to a circular economy. Currently, more than 130 organisations across the fashion and textiles supply chain, as well as trade bodies and charities, have signed the Pact. The Virginia-based organisation, whose acronym used to stand for "Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production", is committed to safe, compliant, humane and ethical production in the textile and apparel industry worldwide and awards certifications to manufacturing companies; more than 3,500 worldwide to date.
