What are the hazards of traditional tea packaging to the environment?
Traditional tea packaging heavily uses materials such as plastic and metal, which consume a large amount of petrochemical energy and emit a large amount of greenhouse gases during the production process. After being discarded, these materials are often difficult to naturally degrade and will persist in the environment for a long time, causing serious pollution to soil, water bodies, etc.
Research has found that traditional plastic packaging takes hundreds of years to decompose in the natural environment, during which harmful volatile substances are continuously released. It may also release methane through slow degradation (such as the formation of microplastics), which has a greenhouse effect 23 times that of carbon dioxide.
Why choose low-carbon packaging materials?
With the increasing global attention to climate change, new green trade barriers such as carbon tariffs, as well as increasingly strict international market access thresholds, have emerged. If tea companies want to occupy a place in the international market, they must actively respond to these challenges. Choosing low-carbon packaging materials is not only a necessary requirement for tea companies to cope with international carbon tariffs and green trade barriers, meet international market entry barriers, but also an important way to respond to consumers’ increasing environmental awareness and enhance brand image and market competitiveness through green attributes. The use of biodegradable and low-carbon packaging not only helps products enter the international market smoothly, but also wins the recognition of consumers who value sustainable consumption, and promotes brands to gain an advantage in environmental trends.
1. Characteristics and advantages of common low-carbon tea packaging materials
Low carbon tea packaging materials focus on “low-carbon throughout the entire life cycle”, while also considering the preservation and environmental protection properties of tea. At present, the mainstream low-carbon tea packaging materials mainly include paper packaging materials, biodegradable plastic packaging materials, and recyclable metal packaging materials.
From the carbon emissions of several common tea packaging materials, kraft paper reduces emissions by 72.29% compared to traditional aluminum foil materials; Degradable plastic (PLA) reduces emissions by 46.88% compared to traditional plastic (PE); Recycled aluminum reduces emissions by 91.21% compared to non recycled tinplate. Compared to traditional packaging materials, the carbon emissions of mainstream low-carbon packaging materials have significantly decreased.
The preservation effect of tea is closely related to the oxygen resistance of packaging materials. Packaging materials with low oxygen resistance (high oxygen permeability) will cause a faster decrease in the freshness of green tea and accelerate tea aging; Packaging materials with high oxygen resistance (low oxygen permeability) can effectively slow down the decline in freshness of green tea and maintain its aroma and taste.
Comparing the preservation effects of iron cans, general plastic bags, aluminum foil composite bags, and paper boxes on tea leaves, the results show that both metal and plastic packaging materials have better moisture and oxygen resistance than paper packaging materials, especially metal plastic composite packaging materials, which have significant preservation effects.
In terms of unit cost, kraft paper has the lowest cost, followed by PE and PLA, while recycled aluminum has the highest cost. From the perspective of environmental costs of several low-carbon packaging materials, PLA has harsh degradation conditions and high waste disposal costs. The production of recycled aluminum consumes relatively more energy and the recycling and transportation process will increase carbon costs. Overall comparison shows that kraft paper is suitable for cost sensitive and environmentally friendly scenarios; PLA is suitable for scenarios with high environmental requirements; Recycled aluminum is suitable for scenarios that require high preservation and environmental protection.
2. Application of Common Low Carbon Tea Packaging Materials
(1) Paper packaging materials
Paper materials are made from plant fibers (such as virgin wood pulp paper, bamboo pulp paper, sugarcane bagasse paper, reed fiber paper, etc.), which have good plasticity and can be processed into various forms such as paper boxes, paper bags, paper cans, etc. Paper packaging materials are widely used in the tea market.
Firstly, the popularity of basic packaging is high. Loose tea, staple tea, especially white tea, Pu erh tea and other aged teas, are often packaged in kraft paper or recycled paper; Part of the portable bags are made of sugarcane bagasse paper, and the carbon reduction effect is significant by simply pressing instead of sealing glue.
Secondly, the mid to high end market is gradually penetrating. Gift box products are starting to use natural materials such as bamboo pulp paper and hemp pulp paper, paired with recycled pulp boards for lining, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of packaging.
In addition, technological innovation breaks through limitations. If the moisture resistance of paper packaging is improved through composite biodegradable films, it can already meet the shelf life requirements of oolong tea such as Tie Guan Yin.
(2) Degradable plastic packaging materials
Degradable plastics are usually made from biobased materials (such as corn, sugarcane, etc.) or petroleum based blends with biobased materials, and can be processed into various forms such as inner packaging bags, composite packaging films, and self-supporting packaging bags.
In the field of tea packaging, PLA、 Degradable plastics such as polybutylene adipate (PBAT) have been applied to a certain extent.
At present, the replacement of basic packaging is accelerating, and bulk green tea and flower tea are mostly packaged in biodegradable plastic bags; Functional packaging continues to break through, with some green tea products using “PLA aluminum-plastic composite bags”. The outer layer is biodegradable plastic and the inner layer is ultra-thin aluminum foil, which retains oxygen barrier properties while reducing plastic usage. The aluminum foil can be separated and recycled during recycling.
(3) Recyclable metal packaging materials
Recyclable metal materials are usually made from recycled aluminum and recycled tinplate, which can be processed into various forms such as metal cans, metal foil packaging bags, metal caps, etc. They have certain applications in tea packaging.
At present, recyclable metal packaging materials are mostly used for high-end tea products, using recycled aluminum cans or tin boxes. Some brands have launched “recycled aluminum cans”, which consumers can send back to the manufacturer after drinking tea, and the brand will give consumers a certain reward.
3. How to choose packaging materials
Choosing tea packaging materials should be guided by core needs, finding the optimal balance between low-carbon emissions reduction, tea preservation, and cost budgeting. Based on the above analysis, the following selection options can be derived for your reference:
Requirement 1: Ultimate cost control while considering basic environmental protection
Preferred material: Kraft paper Advantages: The unit cost is the lowest among all mainstream low-carbon materials, which can significantly reduce packaging budgets. Compared to traditional aluminum foil, it reduces emissions by 72.29%, has clear low-carbon attributes, and meets basic environmental protection requirements. Attention: Tea products with weak freshness are more suitable for short-term storage and do not require high moisture and oxygen resistance.
Requirement 2: High environmental standards with certain requirements for freshness preservation
Preferred material: Biodegradable plastic (PLA) Advantages: Compared to traditional plastic (PE), it reduces emissions by 46.88% and is biodegradable, with better environmental properties than ordinary plastic. The freshness is better than paper materials, which can effectively prevent tea from getting damp and oxidized, meeting the basic preservation needs of most tea leaves. Attention: Degradation requires specific and harsh conditions, and the cost of waste disposal is high. It is necessary to plan recycling or disposal channels in advance.
Requirement 3: High preservation requirements while pursuing low-carbon
Preferred material: Recycled aluminum (or metal plastic composite material) Advantages: Compared with non recycled tinplate, it reduces emissions by 91.21%, has the most significant low-carbon effect, and the metal material is recyclable, with long-lasting environmental protection. Moisture and oxygen resistance are extremely strong, and the preservation effect is better than paper and ordinary plastic. It can maintain the aroma, taste, and internal components of tea for a long time. Attention: The unit cost is the highest, and production energy consumption and recycling transportation will increase some carbon costs, making it more suitable for high-value tea that requires long-term storage.
Requirement 4: Balance preservation, environmental protection, and cost
Preferred material: Aluminum foil kraft paper composite bag Advantages: Combining the environmental friendliness of kraft paper with the high freshness of aluminum foil, high aroma and easily oxidizable green tea and black tea should be given priority consideration. The cost is lower than pure recycled aluminum, and the environmental friendliness is better than pure plastic, which is one of the optimal solutions for balancing the three.
In the current era of increasingly deep low-carbon concepts, the low carbonization of tea packaging materials is an inevitable trend for the sustainable development of the industry. Paper materials, biodegradable plastics, natural plant fiber materials, recyclable metal materials, etc. have their own advantages and have shown good application prospects in practice, but still face challenges such as cost, performance, and market awareness. Through policy support, technological innovation, market guidance, and industrial synergy, the widespread application of low-carbon tea packaging materials can be effectively promoted, achieving a green and low-carbon transformation of tea packaging. In the future, with the advancement of technology and the deepening of environmental awareness, low-carbon tea packaging materials will inevitably usher in broader development space and application prospects.
Post time: Nov-06-2025