Discover our whole-leaf teas and herbal teas in eco-friendly teabags

Teabags have been part of our product line for decades. They account for nearly 80% of the tea market. They can be found everywhere: at home, in hotels, restaurants, tea rooms, cafés, spas, and at various cultural and sporting events.

By offering a ready-to-use serving and a size that makes them easy to carry, they have become indispensable.

In terms of quality, however, a classic paper teabag, which generally contains cut tea leaves, cannot match the flavour of its bulk-packaged counterpart. Whole leaves are always superior in terms of taste and aroma.

That is why we have selected a type of teabag that delivers a flavor experience literally equal to that of loose-leaf tea.

With our whole-leaf teabags, there’s no longer any reason to hesitate between loose tea and teabags: the enjoyment is exactly the same when you taste it.

Of course, and as always at Les Jardins de Gaïa, this new range has been the subject of extensive eco-design (1) using materials sourced entirely from renewable sources. This ensures teabags free of petroleum-derived plastic, aluminum, or other metals—and, most importantly, fully biodegradable and compostable.

The quality and flavours of loose-leaf tea to take with you anywhere

These new teabags, entirely manufactured in France by a specialized family-owned SME, are unique in that they can hold whole leaves rather than tea or plant leaves that have been pre-cut to fit the standard paper format.

And that makes all the difference!

Of course, all the practical aspects remain, but since what’s inside the teabag is exactly what you’d find in our loose-leaf bags, there’s no difference in taste. It offers exactly the same enjoyment.

These whole-leaf teabags can also be an opportunity to try a new variety and then opt for a bulk bag of whole leaves for daily use.

Biodegradable and eco-friendly filters and packaging

Biodegradable polymer filters made from sugarcane

To ensure that the filters in our teabags can hold whole leaves and that these leaves can unfurl freely during brewing, we sought an alternative to paper.

The challenge was to combine robust, eco-friendly materials that are not derived from GM plants or petrochemicals and that have no impact on the taste of the infusion.

The material we selected is a biodegradable resin (2) derived from 100% non-GMO sugarcane glucose. This 100% natural, non-toxic resin releases no sugar into the tea after production: the glucose serves here solely as a raw material for polymerization, which yields a material that can be spun and then woven.

It contains no hazardous substances, such as endocrine disruptors (environmental hormones), and, unlike petrochemical-based plastic, it does not release dangerous gases, such as dioxins, when burned. It simply breaks down into CO₂ and water.

This resin is ideal for manufacturing permeable filters with sturdy mesh that are heat-resistant and can hold whole tea leaves without tearing. The entire filter of our teabags is made from 100% of this plant-based polymer, with the exception of the square “tag,” which also contains a portion of uncoated paper.

This material is certified “Ok Compost Industrial.”

Once the teabag has been used, you can dispose of it in one of your local area’s organic waste bins (check with your local authority if in doubt). Composting will then take place at a certain level of humidity and at a temperature between 50°C and 60°C.

In any case, if there are no organic waste bins near you and the teabag’s filter is not composted, its production will not have used limited resources such as petroleum, whose extraction and processing have a major environmental impact.

A wrapper made from FSC™-certified wood cellulose

The transparent wrapper surrounding each teabag is made of cellophane. Cellophane is a biomaterial derived from FSC™-certified wood cellulose, which guarantees the sustainable management of the forests from which it is sourced.

This film, certified “OK Home Compost,” has the unique feature of being fully compostable in your home compost bin in less than 6 months. It decomposes even at low temperatures and leaves no heavy metal residues. Often mistaken for plastic, it is not derived from petrochemicals and offers all the necessary guarantees for optimal preservation of our products. Thanks to its barrier effect, it provides not only organoleptic protection but also protection against the migration of volatile substances (inks, adhesives, etc.).

Furthermore, the food-grade ink used on this sleeve is, of course, also certified as home compostable.

A recyclable cardboard box made from FSC™-certified wood

The cardboard box containing the teabags is made from virgin wood fibers sourced from the FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council) certified supply chain.

This ensures that the cardboard comes from forests managed responsibly, with respect for the environment and the rights of local communities.

FSC™-certified products thus enable companies and consumers to support sustainable forest management and contribute to the fight against illegal deforestation and biodiversity loss.

Recycling tip:

• If you have a home compost bin, you can dispose of the transparent wrapper that surrounds and protects the teabags;
• OK Compost Industrial-certified filters can be placed, along with their contents, string, and tag, in a food waste bin near your home;
• The cardboard box containing the teabags can be placed in a paper and cardboard recycling bin for recycling.

(1) According toAFNOR (French Standardization Agency): “Eco-design involves integrating environmental considerations from the very beginning of a product or service’s design and throughout all stages of its life cycle.”

And according toADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency): The concepts of eco-design were established at the international level in 2002 with the publication of the ISO/TR 14062 standard. This standard specifies that eco-design aims to “integrate environmental aspects into the design and development of products.” It is worth noting that France produced the first set of guidelines on the subject in 1998 in the now-repealed standard known as FD X 30-310. ADEME contributed significantly to this effort, subsequently represented France at the international level, and served as the secretariat for the drafting of ISO 14062.

(2) PLA (polylactic acid) polymer resin