Lyons Tea is has announced that its full product range will be plant-based and biodegradable by the end of this summer.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, Lyons Tea said is switching its tea bags to plant-based and biodegradable to help foodservice operators, suppliers and consumers make better choices for a greener planet.
Lyons Tea distributes approximately 150 million teabags annually in its foodservice range in Ireland.
By making the switch to plant based and biodegradable teabags for its foodservice range, Lyons Tea will be saving six tonnes of non-biodegradable plastic every year, the company said.
Foodservice operators and suppliers across Ireland can now purchase Lyons Tea plant-based and biodegradable teabags in 500s and 600s boxes.
Fiachra Moloney, general manager Tea Division, Unilever UK & Ireland said, “We have been working towards making the switch to a fully plant-based range for several years."
"We took the initial step in our journey last year when we became the first major black tea brand in Ireland to introduce plant-based and biodegradable teabags to our full retail range," he said.
Plant-Based and Biodegradable Teabags
From May, Lyons Tea said it will also introduce plant-based and biodegradable teabags to its envelopes and string and tag products, completing the transition to a fully plant-based range.
Unlike alternative black teabags that contain small amounts of plastic which cannot be composted, Lyons Tea’s plant-based and biodegradable teabags can be disposed of into a brown (food waste) bin and composted to biodegrade back into nature.
A growing trend over the past number of years has been towards more sustainable options, including reducing certain types of packaging. According to an independent study of 1,000 adults conducted by iReach Insights, a third (32%) of shoppers would be more likely to buy biodegradable teabags as they have a better impact on the environment.
Lyons Tea’s new plant-based and biodegradable foodservice products help operators and suppliers meet this growing demand from their customers.
"As we make the move to plant-based, we’ve had to adapt to make sure that while we save on non-biodegradable plastic, we don’t compromise on the delicious taste of our tea," Moloney said.
We all have a responsibility to protect our planet and since we have switched, we’ve saved 100 tonnes of non-biodegradable plastic, showing the positive changes that sustainable tea has on the environment. We are looking forward to making the transition for our foodservice range over the coming months,” he added.
For more information on Lyons Tea’s plant-based and biodegradable foodservice range, visit www.lyonstea.ie, Lyons Tea on Facebook or @lyons_tea on Twitter and @lyons.tea on Instagram.
