Organic Tea Company Launches 100% Compostable Packaging

June 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Arbor Teas (http://www.arborteas.com) recently became the first tea company to offer its full line of USDA organic loose teas in 100% backyard compostable packaging.  

ORGANIC TEA IN 100% COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING NOW AVAILABLE
Arbor Teas has begun delivering its full line of organic teas in new 100% backyard compostable packaging!  With the release of this next-generation packaging, Arbor Teas continues to lead the tea industry through its staunch commitment to environmental business practices, becoming the first tea company to package its entire tea catalog in this exciting new material.  With the launch of the new packaging, Arbor Teas’ customers can now compost their tea leaves AND tea packaging together in their home composting system! http://www.arborteas.com/green-packaging.html

ABOUT THE NEW COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING
The new packaging is composed of a cellulose film made from wood pulp sourced from sustainably-managed trees. Most compostable packaging available in today’s marketplace is only truly compostable in industrial settings optimized for rapid breakdown. By contrast, the films used for Arbor Teas’ new packaging are backyard compostable.  Because of greater variation in moisture and temperature, backyard composting environments have historically been incapable of breaking down so-called “compostable” packaging materials. However, the material chosen for Arbor Teas’ new packages requires a less optimized environment for biodegradation, representing a major advancement in low-impact packaging.  The film is certified to both the European (EN13432) and American (ASTM D6400) standards for compostable packaging, and has been submitted to an additional independent test protocol (Miti Test ISO14851) confirming its biodegradation at ambient temperatures and in aqueous environments, relevant for home composting in bins or compost heaps.

Not only are the new packages compostable, but they’re also lighter than their predecessors, reducing the weight of Arbor Teas’ packaging by 60%! This translates to a meaningful reduction in the carbon footprint of the Arbor Teas operation. And, in response to customer requests, the new packaging accommodates more tea than before. On average, Arbor Teas packages contain 28% more tea. The result: MORE TEA, LESS PACKAGING! Previously, Arbor Teas packed its teas in a recyclable, parchment-lined paperboard canister and in a biodegradable kraft bag.

NEW LOGO AND SLOGAN LAUNCH with PACKAGING CHANGE – organic to a tea™
The launch of Arbor Teas’ new packaging offered the perfect opportunity to reveal the company’s new look! Designed by the Ann Arbor-based design company, Pryor Design, Arbor Teas is thrilled to unveil its new logo (see above), new slogan (“organic to a tea™”), as well as an updated look on its online store, www.arborteas.com.  

ABOUT ARBOR TEAS
Arbor Teas is a limited liability company formed by husband and wife tea enthusiasts (and Ann Arbor locals) Jeremy and Aubrey Lopatin in April 2004. Arbor Teas’ daily mission is to find the world’s most fantastic organic teas and deliver them to their customers as sustainably as possible.  From its exceptional collection of organic and Fair Trade Certified® teas, to its Carbonfree® business practices, to its new backyard compostable packaging, Arbor Teas’ passion is steeped in a desire to do worldly good, and its vision is to remain “organic to a tea.” Arbor Teas sells its organic teas nationwide through its online store (http://www.arborteas.com), and is a member of the Specialty Tea Institute.

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Arbor Teas is run by Jeremy and Aubrey Lopatin, a husband and wife team of organic loose tea enthusiasts that are passionate about sustainability, social equity, and the betterment of the world around us.