Packaging, Properly Considered
At Jeeves & Jericho, we believe in doing things properly.
That applies to the tea itself, of course, but also to the way it is packed. Sustainability matters to us, and it is something we continue to work on across the whole range. We keep all of our packaging under review and are always looking for ways to improve it.
There is no perfect solution when it comes to packaging. It is full of compromises. So rather than pretending otherwise, we try to take a sensible approach: keep improving, keep asking questions, and make the best choices we can with the options available.
Below is a clear look at where we are now, what our packaging is made from, and how best to dispose of it.
What do we need packaging to do?
As a tea company, we work hard to source teas with real flavour and character. Once those leaves have been crafted at origin and shipped over, the packaging has an important job to do.
1. Protect the tea properly
First and foremost, it needs to keep the tea fresh. Aroma, flavour and quality all depend on good packaging. By the time the tea reaches your kitchen, we want it to be every bit as vibrant as it was when it left origin.
2. Be as responsible as possible
Every product has an impact. Tea has to be grown, processed, packed, shipped, stored and brewed. Packaging is just one part of that, but it matters.
We try to use as little material as possible, avoid unnecessary plastic, and choose options that are recyclable, compostable or made from renewable resources wherever we can. It is not always straightforward, but it is something we take seriously.
3. Be easy to use
Tea should be a pleasure, not a battle with awkward packaging. We want everything to be easy to open, easy to store, and fit for everyday use.
4. Be practical
Packaging also has to work in the real world. It needs to protect the product in transit, sit properly on shelf, pack well in cases, and make commercial sense too.
Why does plastic matter?
Because not all materials are equal once you have finished with them.
Plastic can be useful, but it often comes from non-renewable sources, it is not always easy to recycle properly, and it can stay in the environment for far too long. That is why we have tried to reduce it wherever possible and move towards materials that nature can deal with more easily.
A simple way of looking at it is this: use more of what nature can handle, and less of what it cannot.
Where we are now
We do not claim to have solved everything. What we believe in is continuous improvement.
Our tea bags
Our tea bags and string are made from SOILON, a plant-based material derived from cornstarch. The tag is paper, and the bag is sealed using heat rather than plastic.
That means the tea bag, string and tag are all fully compostable.
How to dispose of them
They are best put in your food waste bin, where they can be broken down under industrial composting conditions.
The inner bag
The clear inner wrap inside our tea bag cartons may look like plastic, but it is actually made from NatureFlex, a renewable wood-pulp film.
It keeps the tea fresh while also being compostable, biodegradable and marine degradable.
How to dispose of it
If you compost at home, it can go there. Otherwise, the best place for it is your food waste bin.
The outer carton
Our cartons are made from FSC-certified cardboard. That means the material comes from responsibly managed forests.
They are 100% plastic-free and fully recyclable.
How to dispose of them
Put them in your household recycling bin.
Loose-leaf tea leaves
Loose leaf is one of the simplest options from a waste point of view. The leaves themselves are natural and fully compostable.
How to dispose of them
You can put them in your food waste bin or straight into the garden if you prefer.
Loose-leaf packaging
This has been one of our biggest areas for improvement.
Our original loose-leaf pouches did the job well in terms of keeping the tea fresh, but they used mixed materials that were harder to recycle in practice. We knew there had to be a better option.
We have now moved to improved loose-leaf packaging using NatureFlex inner bags and outer cartons, which has helped us reduce the use of materials that are harder for nature to deal with.
The inner bag
Just like the one in our tea bag cartons, this is made from NatureFlex and is designed to protect the tea from moisture, oxygen and heat.
How to dispose of it
It can go in your food waste bin or home compost.
The outer carton
This is made from FSC-certified cardboard, is plastic-free, and is fully recyclable.
How to dispose of it
Place it in your household recycling bin.
Our matcha tins
Matcha needs protecting from air, light and moisture, so the packaging has to work a bit harder.
Our matcha tins are made from tinplate, which keeps the product in good condition and can also be recycled.
How to dispose of them
Best of all, reuse them if you can. They are perfect for herbs, spices and all sorts of useful bits and pieces. If not, they can go in your household recycling bin.
Our cardboard shipping boxes
Like any business sending out parcels, we use a lot of cardboard. Our shipping boxes are made using 75% recycled materials, with any new fibre coming from FSC-certified sources.
Wherever possible, we reuse boxes too. If one is still sturdy and fit for purpose, we are very happy to send it back out again.
How to dispose of them
Reuse them if you can. If not, flatten them and put them in your household recycling bin.
What next?
We have made strong progress across the range, and our larger wholesale packaging is a good example of that.
For these packs, we have chosen a fully recyclable MDOPE / EVOH / BOPE material for its strong sustainability credentials and excellent protective qualities. It gives us the barrier performance needed to keep the tea fresh, aromatic, and in top condition, while also being a far better choice from a recyclability point of view than many more traditional flexible packaging materials.
It is lightweight, durable, and designed with circularity in mind, helping us reduce unnecessary waste without compromising on product quality. In other words, it does exactly what good packaging should do — protect the tea, work hard in transit and storage, and leave behind less of a problem once its job is done.
For us, that is exactly the sort of progress worth making.