Tea is one of the most commonly consumed drinks around the globe, perhaps coming in second after water. Tea is known for its numerous health benefits, such as reducing your risk of heart disease and certain cancers. However, the question that remains is whether or not tea is environmentally friendly.
But what about those of us who worry about the environment? What about those of us who care about the health of our planet? Well, there are plenty of benefits to drinking tea that go beyond just its health benefits. Tea plants can be grown in poor soil and are able to grow even in areas that would otherwise be considered unsuitable for farming. This means that tea plants do not require large amounts of land or water, which is a huge benefit when it comes to protecting the environment.
However, is tea wholly environmentally friendly? Well, this would depend on certain factors. Here are some pointers for drinking tea in an environmentally friendly way:
Don’t use single-use cups
While some people may be fine with using disposable cups, there are others who are concerned about the impact that this has on the environment. If you’re always using single-use cups and you drink tea on a regular basis, then that can rack up quite a bill. Not to mention the waste! Instead, invest in a set of reusable cups and use them for your tea as well as other beverages. You can also bring your own tumbler to cafes for them to use instead of the typical plastic cups.
Buy from environmentally-friendly brands
There are a number of environmentally-friendly brands out there that sell tea. You can choose from tea bags, loose leaf teas, and even organic teas.
Buying organic teas is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint as well as ensure that you’re drinking the healthiest possible version of the tea you’re drinking. Organic teas have been shown to have higher levels of antioxidants than non-organic teas.
Don’t throw away your tea bags and tins
Many people think that they can dispose of their tea bags and tins in the bin. However, this is not always a good idea as many companies are using excessive amounts of plastic in packaging their products. The waste created from single-use packaging can have a significant impact on the environment.
Instead, reuse your tea tins for other things around the house. For example, you could store pencils in there and then place it on your desk. For tea bags, you could use them for face masks! There are many DIY ideas on the internet for you to try.
Recycle the tea bags and leaves for compost
Many people will throw away their tea bags and leaves after they’ve finished drinking the tea. However, you can still use them for compost! You can either put them in your garden or on your balcony to use as a mulch. If you want to go the extra mile, you could even make your own compost from them by mixing the leaves with shredded paper and/or newspaper.
