Lidl Great Britain (GB) has revealed that all its Lidl-owned brand tea bags are set to become fully compostable, helping tea enthusiasts across the country make more sustainable shopping choices.

The move means customers will be able to enjoy their favorite cuppa knowing that they can dispose of the tea bags in food or green waste bins. The transition to fully compostable tea bags is expected to divert up to 800 million per year from traditional waste bins, and subsequently, landfill.

The material – a plant-based plastic, polylactic acid (PLA) – not only ensures the composability of the tea bags but also maintains the exceptional quality and flavor that Lidl customers expect. From its Deluxe Fairtrade Assam Tea (£1.09) to its Knightsbridge Gold Blend Tea (£1.19) or Knightsbridge Red Label Tea (£2.39) – the change will be made across all of Lidl GB’s own-brand tea range.

In line with its wider commitment to improving the recyclability of its products, the move follows a recent announcement from the discounter to transition its milk range to clear caps. These combined efforts mean that shoppers can savor every cup of tea knowing they’re helping to reduce the amount of single-use plastic going to landfill.

Shyam Unarket, Head of Responsible Sourcing and Ethical Trade at Lidl GB, commented: “Those buying tea bags from Lidl are supporting our efforts to reduce single-use plastic going to landfill. We understand that even a few small changes to our products can benefit our customers while helping us improve our impact on the planet – one cup at a time.”

Lidl’s new compostable tea bags will land in store over the coming months, while existing stock gradually sells through. Today’s announcement comes as part of Lidl’s ongoing efforts to reduce its own-label plastic packaging by 40% by the end of 2025.

Other recent initiatives include becoming the first UK supermarket to incorporate Prevented Ocean Plastic into its water bottles and announcing plans to introduce new vacuum-packed, recyclable packaging across its beef mince (ground beef) range, resulting in a plastic reduction of almost two thirds (63%).