01. Apr 2015
Ecoteas achieves 100% Zero Waste packaging with help from Innovia’s NatureFlex
Innovia Films has announced that Oregon-based ECOTEAS is using NatureFlex packaging films in the wrappers of their individual tea bags. This flexible packaging material is derived from wood pulp sourced from managed plantations and is certified to be over 90% bio-based and home and industrial compostable.
High barriers to oxygen and moisture ensure the tea bags contained within are protected and kept fresh. When laminated to paper, the final structure offers the protection and natural appearance that ECOTEAS was looking for.
Innovia is proud, not only to be working with brands that have a true passion for sustainability, but also of its contribution to ECOTEAS’ mission to extend the ethos of their company to their packaging.
ECOTEAS received the Sustainable Food Trade Association’s national “Responsible Packaging Award” in 2012 for the use of 100% post-consumer recycled paperboard in their cartons. This recognition led to continued development of the “greenest” tea packaging possible.
As Stefan Schachter, Founder and President of ECOTEAS put it: “We believe that business must be an engine for positive change.”
To extend their sustainability efforts to the entire tea bag line, ECOTEAS removed the tags, strings, and staples, and introduced the new tea bag overwraps. The result was a “100% ZERO WASTE” package, with all ingredients and packaging components suitable for composting (tea, filter paper and wrapper) or recycling (carton).
The new packaging was unveiled earlier this month at the Natural Products Expo in 
Anaheim, CA, and generated, according to Joseph Chermesino, ECOTEAS Creative Director “a great deal of buzz”. “Everyone who visited our booth expressed enthusiasm and gratitude for our new Zero-Waste tea bag line. The quality of the material, the high functionality and the compostability all earned outstanding marks,” he said.
Jake Hebert, Marketing Coordinator at Innovia Films commented “We are proud to be working with brands that have a true passion for sustainability. NatureFlex™ assists in ECOTEAS’ mission to extend the ethos of their company to their packaging.” (KL)