At TOTP we care deeply for the environment and the future of our planet. We are constantly experimenting and working on improving our business and product offering to ensure it has as minimal impact on the world around us.

When we started this brand in 2016 there were limited options when it came to sustainable packaging and we were at the forefront of eco-friendly boxes and pouches.

Now, things have moved forward dramatically (thank goodness) but we haven't quite kept up with all the changes.

The challenge we face is to keep costs down so that our products remain affordable for you guys while producing a fully sustainable, organic, recyclable and biodegradable product. 

No packaging comes without an environmental cost, so it's a balancing act.

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

One of the first things we did was ensure that our tea was certified organic.

Being certified means we only work with tea farms in India that can provide evidence that their plantations minimise non-renewable resources and that their crops are chemical and pesticide free.

Each year we are audited by NASAA (National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia) to ensure we comply to Australian certified organic standards and we can continue to carry the NASAA logo and Certificate Number 2793P on our packaging.

Because we import our tea directly from the source (in India) we must make sure that there is a transfer of organic certification meaning lots of boxes to check. It also means we must be able to track all product units back to their batch and creation date.

Currently in Australia, the only way to know that the products you are buying are actually organic, are to ensure they carry the certification logo. 

OUR TEA BOXES

We produce our tea boxes in India using recycled craft board and vegetable inks. They are made by hand and silk screened by hand too.

You may notice when you receive your tea from us that each box is slightly different, even when it contains the same tea blend. With these imperfections comes the knowledge that we are doing our best to minimise the impact on the earth by creating packaging that can safely decompose when added to your compost or put into recycling.

OUR TEA BAGS

A great cup of tea should be kind to the planet as well as to you. That’s why our pyramid tea bags are made from PLA (Polylactic Acid), a plant-based mesh derived from corn starch.

Unlike petroleum plastics such as nylon or PET, PLA is designed to break down in industrial composting facilities, where higher heat and controlled conditions allow it to return to natural elements. While it does not break down quickly in home compost or landfill, it is a step forward: strong enough to hold whole leaf tea while moving away from fossil fuel–based plastics.

Here’s how to dispose of them:

• Tea leaves → compost or worm farm.

• Bag mesh → general waste (unless your local council offers industrial composting).

• Cartons → recyclable in kerbside bins.

We are also working with our suppliers towards full certification under Australian composting standards (AS 4736 / AS 5810), so we can provide complete clarity on disposal.

Choosing PLA tea bags made from corn starch means every sip is a little kinder to the earth.

OUR TEA BAG POUCHES

Our tea bag pouches are made with an uncoated paper outer combined with the thinnest possible inner lining to keep your tea fresh and full of flavour. This balance allows us to protect the integrity of the tea while reducing unnecessary material use.

We know packaging is one of the biggest challenges in sustainability, and we’re actively exploring new innovations to make our pouches even more eco-friendly without compromising freshness or quality.

LOOSE LEAF TEA POUCHES

Our pouches are currently in a transition phase. Some of our existing stock is made from recycled kraft paper with a foil lining. While this option keeps tea fresh, it isn’t compostable and can only be recycled through specialist soft plastic programs (not kerbside).

We are also developing new pouches made from renewable Plantcell technology, including plant-based zippers. These are designed to be compostable and break down without leaving microplastics. As we finalise testing and certifications, we’ll share more details so you know exactly how to dispose of them responsibly.

TEA ACCESSORIES

You'll notice that we offer stainless steel and glass tea accessories, no plastic. We do this for both environmental and aesthetic reasons. Best case scenario is to buy secondhand but when you can't, we have chosen some of the best items to help provide a fantastic brewing experience with little impact to the flavour of your tea and the environment.