What are we really paying for with convenience? And, what are our choices doing to the environment?
Teabag waste on so many levels
I keep this display in my Studio and new people comment on it daily. Almost everyone says “wow—this is a really good visual”. I’ve had many take pictures of it for Facebook—to show their friends and remind them to be more conscious shoppers and consumers.
My original intent wasn’t to show the wasteful packaging: it was to compare the price/volume/quality of the tea; I just wanted people to see a comparison of an ounce of my Organic English Breakfast with a major grocery store brand (which turns out to be $3/oz. for teabag tea and $3.50/oz. for my Organic English Breakfast). But as I opened the bags and accumulated the mess for my display, I felt compelled to show the waste too.
Teabags are deceptive because most people carry and open one teabag at a time—and they’re small. But add up a box and all its packaging and it starts to look alarming. And seriously, a tea lover is not paying for the tea with their teabag purchase—he/she is paying for packaging and store-shelf space.
One more thing: the box had a “sell by” date of 2015 and I’ve had this display for almost a year. Teabag tea is rarely fresh tea—it’s made and packaged for shelf-life.
Consider keeping a reusable container for your favorite tea and bring it in for refills. My airtight bags are refillable and I will gladly help you be an environmental steward with reusing them.