Environmental Initiatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHY IS LOOSE TEA A RESPONSIBLE CHOICE?

Loose tea has many environmental advantages over packaged and bagged teas.
 

CONSIDER:

 

Tea Bags

• 1 lb/500g of tea can produce 200 teabags.
• To make 200 teabags requires: 200 staples, 200 lengths of string, 200 paper, nylon or other synthetic sheets.
• Wrapping 200 teabags requires: 200 foil or paper over-wrap sheets

The result:
• Increased shipping weight.
• Increased fuel consumption.
• Increased resource consumption.
• Increased non-reusable waste.

Loose Tea
• 1 lb/500g produces 200 cups of tea with no added environmental cost.
• Certain loose leaf teas if steeped in water between 82°C - 87°C (180°F - 190°F) can offer multiple infusions.

i.e. China greens and oolongs produce excellent cups in this manner.

 

 

HOW IS A RESPONSIBLE TEA GARDEN OPERATED?

 

A CONTINUOUS CROP
Unlike many other commercial crops, tea can be grown 12 months of the year. For workers in the developing world, this means a sustainable income is available year round. What's more, the tea bush is a very earthy plant and certain varieties can yield suitable leaves for up to 100 years. This fact means that the emissions and financial output associated with replanting crops can be greatly minimized.

 

QUALITY TEAS ARE HAND-PLUCKED
Due to the mountainous terrain and high altitude of the world's leading growing regions, such as Darjeeling, Sri Lanka or Kenya, luxury teas must be hand-plucked. This means that for most of the world's luxury teas, and virtually all of Lifetime Tea products, the harvesting process consumes very little fossil fuel and releases virtually no CO2.
One notable anomaly to this trend is Japan, where exceptional green teas are typically harvested by machine.

 

TEA PLANTATIONS ABSORB CO2
As a rule, tea plantations are net absorbers of CO2, one of the common gasses responsible for global warming. Most estates use renewable timber, refuse wood and root stock from exhausted tea bushes as a fuel source as often as possible. Not only are these fuel sources renewable and less costly than fossil fuels, they also emit fewer emissions.

 

SOIL REHABILITATION
On a regular schedule, fields are rotated and left fallow to rehabilitate soil. Chemical input is kept to a minimum to ensure soil beds remain healthy and nutrient-rich.

 

PESTICIDE USE
Wherever possible, our teas are pesticide free. Certain highly elevated tea districts, such as Darjeeling or the Kenyan highlands, can support tea without pesticides since pests that typically attack tea cannot survive at the lofty altitudes.

In cases where pesticides are used, Lifetime Tea takes great care to ensure all growers meet and exceed European Union or Japanese Minimum Residue Levels, the most stringent in the industry.