INTEGRITE Eco-design at the heart of our development

What is eco-design?

According to AFNOR (French Standardization Agency): "Eco-design consists of integrating environmental considerations into the design of a product or service and throughout all stages of its life cycle."

And according to ADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency): The concepts of eco-design were established internationally 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 It should be noted that France defined the first documentation booklet on the subject in 1998 in the now repealed standard called FD X 30-310. ADEME contributed significantly to this, then represented France at the international level and provided the secretariat for the drafting of ISO 14062.

Demand from consumers, who are increasingly concerned about the impact of their purchases on climate change, has prompted manufacturers in the sector to focus on improving their manufacturing processes, from the selection of raw materials to technological developments and their impact on the environment.

Recognizing labels on our packaging

At Les Jardins de Gaïa, every label or logo used has been checked and verified.

We therefore display: quality labels corresponding to organic (EU), biodynamic (Demeter), fair trade (WFTO), and biodiversity (Elephant Friendly) farming methods; we also display the Info-tri label for sorting instructions, and the FSC™ and PEFC™ logos (labels indicating that the paper comes from sustainably managed forests).

We are also members of Éco-emballages, now Citeo (one of two eco-organizations approved by the French government to organize, supervise, and support the recycling of household packaging in France), and take into account the end of life of our packaging.

What materials do we use for our packaging?

Paper and cardboard

There are endless variations of virgin or recycled pulp paper that are compatible with food use. The wood fibers that make up kraft paper can come from wood scraps recovered from sawmills during the first stage of processing and are therefore considered virgin material. We take care to use only paper that has not undergone any surface treatment that would prevent it from being recycled.

We use paper and cardboard for:

• 100 g bags: 100% unbleached recycled paper
• 250 g bags: white, non-chlorinated kraft paper
• Boxes: FSC™-certified cardboard
• Tea bags: unbleached hemp and wood paper, without glue or staples

Wood cellulose

This transparent film is FSC™ certified and includes sustainable forest management. Originally manufactured in Europe, it has the unique feature of being compostable even when printed. Often mistaken for plastic, it is not petroleum-based and offers all the necessary guarantees for optimal preservation of our products: thanks to its barrier effect, it provides organoleptic protection as well as protection against the migration of volatile elements (inks, glues, etc.).

We opted for this solution when we first created our packaging.

The 100 g and 250 g tea bags are lined with it for better preservation of the aromas. It should be removed from the paper at the end of its life.

The protective envelopes for our tea bags are also made of this material

Metal

Essential accessories for any tea merchant, our tea tins (50 g, 100 g, 1 kg, and 1.5 kg) are made of tinplate and protected by an ISO 9001-certified food-grade varnish guaranteed to be free of bisphenol A and phthalates. This material is highly valued for its aroma-preserving qualities and its long-term reusability. Our different ranges include printed or plain tinplate tubes with metal or plastic handles for those manufactured in Europe.

The latest additions: the tubes in the Rare & Precious range are made in France and feature a "plug-in" lid, a technique recently reintroduced in France and previously manufactured exclusively in China. The relocation of this expertise to China has drastically reduced development opportunities in Europe, making this type of lid simply exceptional today!

Other materials used in food packaging

Petroleum-based plastics

Fossil-based plastics such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, etc. are still the most common today because they are inexpensive and widely manufactured. Depending on their properties (protection against oils, liquids, or dry products), they are combined with other materials such as aluminum and/or paper in a process known as lamination. Doypacks and pouches are equipped with a very thin protective layer.

Bioplastics

Bioplastic is a general term that refers to plastics made from renewable plant or animal resources.

One example is PLA (polylactic acid based on sugar or starch fermentation, mainly from sugar cane). The packaging film for our tea bags is made from this material.

Aluminum

Completely opaque and impermeable (providing the necessary protection to preserve the product), it has the distinction of being the only material that can be recycled indefinitely. Despite its controversial reputation, it continues to be widely used in food packaging and its manufacture, although disastrous, remains widespread because, to date, it offers characteristics that no other material can replace. Some of our pouches contain it.

Long-standing partnerships with local suppliers

Our purchasing policy is to favor local suppliers and service providers, so we use French or European companies as much as possible. We are particularly committed to long-term relationships and want these partnerships to be sustainable and remain a foundation for our product development.

These companies are selected based on specifications that take into account our values and ecological interests. For example, the printers we work with are Imprim'Vert® certified, a label that covers five criteria:

• The proper disposal of hazardous waste
• Secure storage of hazardous liquids
• Non-use of toxic products
• Environmental awareness among employees and customers
• Monitoring of the site's energy consumption

In summary: the balancing act of eco-design

As you can see, designing environmentally friendly packaging requires assessing a number of criteria, taking into account what is already available on the market:

• the material used and its impact throughout its life cycle,
• the proximity of the manufacturer and its best practices,
• the technology used and its impact on the environment,
• the protection provided to our product

Since relocating to China, European and French companies have lost much of their expertise in this area. However, there has recently been a growing awareness of the need to repatriate or reinvent local industry. Our containers are manufactured as close as possible to our site, in France or Europe, whenever possible.

Our Quality and Packaging departments ensure compliance with the various regulations in force and keep abreast of developments in the sector, enabling us to make even greater progress in respecting the Earth and its people. Original, attractive and in keeping with our products, our packaging is the result of our commitment and creativity, which are constantly evolving!

Remember to reuse your tea bags and boxes

Tin cans are suitable for all teas, plain or flavored, and are particularly suitable for fragile and high-end teas. They are easier to handle and provide optimal storage for your teas, which can be kept in a dry place, away from moisture and light. Once empty, the tube can be refilled or reused as desired in stores, but also in the kitchen to store other dry foods (sugar, rice, pasta, dried vegetables, etc.). At the end of their life, these tea tins should be placed in the metal recycling bin.

Our tea bags are also refillable packaging. You can reuse them for the same purpose and have them refilled in our stores or usual points of sale (bulk goods).