Many coffee drinkers are trying to do their part to cut down litter and landfill waste. Espresso Royale has been using all compostable “paper” products for over a year, and Starbucks is holding a contest to design a more eco-friendly disposable cup. (More information here).

What about tea lovers? Aren’t most of those herbs and teas rather Earth friendly?

Perhaps, but I have a box of Moroccan Pomegranate Tea at home that tells me tea strings, tags, staples, and wrappers can account for 3.5 million pounds of landfill waste per year.

Arbor Teas, an Ann Arbor based online tea retailer, is leading the tea industry in recyclable packaging.

Tea enthusiasts Jeremy and Aubrey Lopatin founded the company in April 2004, and have all the while been committed to environmental business practices. “Never ones to rest on our laurels, we’re always looking for further opportunities to "green-up" our company, giving back to the planet whenever we can.”

Their newest changes reflect the couple’s desire for 100% backyard compostable materials. According to Arbor Teas’ press release, most compostable packaging available in today’s marketplace is only truly compostable in industrial settings optimized for rapid breakdown.

The new Arbor Teas packaging however, biodegrades much easier. It is composed of a cellulose film made from wood pulp sourced from sustainably-managed trees. The packaging can be added to home composting systems along right along with any used tea leaves.

Jeremy Lopatin describes the search for a eco-conscious packaging as a constant evolution. With a background in environmental policy, he has seen the company through a change from tin to parchment, and now these film-based packages. The latest material really was not available on the market until about one year ago. Lopatin says the material is also lighter which results in a smaller carbon footprint and less shipping cost. 

So dedicated are the Lopatins that they even came up with a way to be sure that their labels were compostable as well. No adhesive material fits the bill, so the tags on Arbor Teas bags are made of recycled paper and attached with a reusable elastic band.

Earth Day is a big deal at Arbor Teas. The company holds a 24-hour sale where all items site wide are 20% off. The company also chose today as the launch for their new slogan and logo designed by local company, Pryor Design. The logo reflected exactly what the Lopatins were looking for, the slogan fit the company needs perfectly; Organic to a Tea.

Ann Arbor folks only make up about 5-10% of their customer base, but as a salute to their hometown, Arbor Teas offers free delivery for any local purchases. If you are looking to sample their organic and eco-friendly teas, you can find them served at Eve, Pacific Rim, and The Coffee House Creamery.

Jeremy Lopatin says he is partial towards Japanese teas, and his all time favorite is a phyto-nutrient rich Gyokuro that he calls the pinnacle of Japanese green teas. Local deliveries are made on Fridays. Think I may give it a try.

Lead Shopping Blogger Angie Smith will hunt for deals and dish on the latest in retail and business news in Ann Arbor. Readers will attain notices of great deals and store happenings in and around the city. To report a news item or tip contact her at angieannarbor@gmail.com.