5 Earth Day Ideas for Keeping Your Tea Sustainable

April 11, 2016 74 Comments

Earth Day's right around the corner, and so are hundreds of tips on how to go green in every aspect of your life, from your electricity habits to your water bill.

But what about sustainable ideas for your tea? Lucky for you, I've got the scoop on five ways to keep your tea earth-friendly!

 

1. Bring a reusable mug to your local tea shop.

Paper cups? Not for you! By bringing your own mug to a tea shop, you help the business cut down on waste--even if the cups are recyclable.

How to do it: First, find yourself a travel mug you adore. Then, make it a habit of putting it right next to your keys, so you never leave the house without it!

2. Use tea to feed your garden and houseplants.

Tea is a fantastic source of nutrients for your plants. They're particularly great for acid-loving plants, like tomatoes and roses, but any plant will be happy to have some tea leaves in its soil. 

How to do it: To feed your garden with tea, sprinkle the used leaves around the base of the plant and gently scratch it into the soil.

3. Reduce your tea packaging.

Yes, there are a-million-and-one ways to try and reuse tea bags, but why not just get rid of them altogether? Go bag free with loose blends and help save the planet while enjoying a delicious beverage.

How to do it: Brew your tea in a moka pot or pour over--perfect for Teaspressa!

4. Replace your conditioner with tea.

Right? This might sound a little strange, but tea rinses are totally a thing. Not only does tea act like a leave-in conditioner, but it can also help brighten or darken your natural hair color, and help promote hair growth.

How to do it: Brew the tea like you're going to drink it, and then pour it over your hair and massage it in. Let it sit for five minutes, then rinse it out.

5. Use tea as an eco-friendly floor cleaner.

Tea has been used to clean hardwood floors for ages. Instead of rubbing potentially toxic solutions into your dull hardwood floor, why not use tea, with its shine-adding tanic acid?

How to do it: Boil a pot of water and steep 5-6 teabags-worth of tea leaves in the water for about 10 minutes. Then, carefully pour the tea into your mop bucket, and mop the floor with it.

 

Whether you're drinking it, or using it as hair conditioner, floor cleaner, or garden mulch, tea has a ton of sustainable possibilities.

How are you going green this Earth Day? Let us know in the comments!

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