Nylon Tea Bags

Wikipedia: Nylon
Last Updated: Mar. 5, 2012Nylon tea bags are tea bags or sachets that are made out of a nylon mesh. Nylon tea bags are used primarily because they offer the potential for superior flavor, relative to traditional paper tea bags; however, there are environmental concerns associated with their use.[1]

What is nylon?

Nylon is a generic designation for a broad category of synthetic polymer fabrics. There are a lot of different types of fabrics bearing the name "nylon".

Are nylon tea bags safe?

This is an open question and its answer is unknown. As with any synthetic material, there is some concern as to the safety of nylon tea bags when they are used in tea bags, mainly due to the fact that they are exposed to near-boiling water. Some synthetic materials and plastics are not safe when heated, as they can release various toxic chemicals.

Nylon as a fabric generally has a high heat-resistance, far higher than the temperatures it is subjected to when steeped in hot water. However, there has been no published testing as to the safety of nylon tea bags, so it is impossible to say definitively that nylon tea bags are safe.

Nylon tea bags and environmental sustainability:

Nylon tea bags are not the most sustainable choice as most nylon is practically non-biodegradable and cannot be composted. However, the long-term degradation time for nylon is shorter than other forms of plastic, on the order of 30-40 years. Nylon tends to persist in the environment for a fairly long time.

There are a few special forms of nylon that are biodegradable, but these forms are usually labeled as biodegradable nylon. When it is not labelled, it is safest to assume that nylon is of the non-biodegradable form.

There are additional environmental concerns with nylon beyond that of its breaking down. The production of nylon is not the most environmentally sound process. Most nylon nowadays is produced by a process that generates significant amounts of nitrous oxide, which functions as a greenhouse gas and also depletes ozone.[2]

Alternatives to nylon in tea bags:

Although loose-leaf tea is the best option both in terms of flavor and sustainability, if you are going to seek out tea bags, it is best to buy tea bags made of paper, silk, or cotton, as they are fully biodegradable. Paper or silk tend to be most common, although silk tends to be more expensive.

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