Backyard Compostable Packaging – Arbor Teas

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Backyard Compostable Packaging

Welcome to a guided tour of Arbor Teas' packaging! We are proud to be the first and only company offering our full line of loose teas in backyard compostable packaging.

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Front of Package

Plastic free and Compostable
Made from paper and non-PLA cellulose-based film.
Excellent oxygen and moisture barrier.
Easier-to-read graphics and product information.
Non-GMO.
Vegan.
Made in the USA.
Lightweight, less to ship.

Our innovative backyard compostable packaging is made from paper and non-PLA compostable film. Updated in 2025, this version features stronger side seams and more durability for protection during shipping. The thin, lightweight material allows it to break down quickly (even in home compost heaps!), and adds practically no weight.

Back of Package

Our Mission Statement
Organic to a Tea™

When you choose Arbor Teas, you support a sustainable, no-waste alternative that allows you to compost your used tea leaves AND the packaging, leaving only a delicious memory behind!

Compostable Badge
Storage Tip to Maximize Freshness
Contact Information

The back of the package features a handy reminder to transfer your tea to a permanent container and compost the package. You can also find our address here, in case you want to be our pen pal!

Simple Brewing Instructions for:
Hot Tea
Iced Tea
Cold Brew
We're happy to offer simple instructions for making hot-brewed tea, iced tea, and cold brew on the right-hand panel of the package. But don't forget - tea preparation is a matter of personal taste, so feel free to experiment!

Back Label

Same Compostable Label as the Front
Displays Ingredient List
Displays Brewing Recommendations
Displays Lot Number
The back label of every package offers a full list of ingredients as well as our recommendations for preparation including: recommended water temperature, quantity, and brewing time per 8 oz cup. Again, consider these guidelines as a starting point on your journey toward the perfect cup!

Organic Logo

Our Entire Catalog is USDA Organic
Certified by Global Organic Alliance
No GMOs, No Synthetic Pesticides or Fertilizers, No Sewage Sludge, No Irradiation
Rest assured that every single one of our teas and herbs is Certified Organic under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP).

Bottom of Package

The Compost Stewardship Institute Mark (CSIMark) indicates packaging that is accepted by the Compost Stewardship Program. Materials meet ASTM D6400 standards.
Visit: CompostStewardship.org/HowtoCompost

Tea Storage

Permanent Container = Longer Freshness
Cost Effective Large Sizes Available
Compost Used Packaging
Create a No-Waste Alternative for Your Tea
We recommend transferring your tea to a permanent, air-tight container once opened - it'll stay fresher that way. After you do, don’t forget to compost the package wherever composting takes place - even in your backyard!

The Specifics of Arbor Teas Packaging

On Earth Day 2010, Arbor Teas became the first tea company in the United States to deliver a full line of organic loose teas in backyard compostable packaging! With the release of this next-generation packaging, we at Arbor Teas advanced our environmental mission, continuing to lead the tea industry through our staunch commitment to sustainable business practices. For the first time ever, tea drinkers were able to compost their tea leaves AND tea packaging together in their home composting system!

Then in early 2015, Arbor Teas began using a compostable label adhered with a compostable adhesive. The addition of this compostable label and adhesive makes the ENTIRE package (label and all) backyard compostable! **

The body of our packaging is composed of a cellulose film made from wood pulp sourced from sustainably managed, non-GMO trees. Most of the compostable packaging available in today’s marketplace is only truly compostable in industrial settings optimized for rapid breakdown. By contrast, the film used for Arbor Teas’ new packaging can actually break down in a backyard compost setting.

Because of greater variation in moisture and temperature, backyard composting environments have historically been incapable of breaking down so-called “compostable” packaging materials, such as corn-based plastic cups and take-out containers. However, the material in Arbor Teas’ packages requires a less optimized environment for biodegradation, representing a major advance in low-impact packaging.

The film is certified to both the European (EN13432) and American (ASTM D6400) standards for compostable packaging, and has been submitted to an additional independent test protocol (Miti Test ISO14851) confirming its biodegradation at ambient temperatures and in aqueous environments, relevant for home composting in bins or compost heaps.

The labels of our packaging are composed of a hemp-based or sugar cane-based paper. The label is adhered with a compostable adhesive that meets the requirements of DIN CERTCO and BPI for biodegradability and compostability, in addition to being compliant with the American (ASTM D6868) for compostable products. This compostable adhesive is perhaps the most innovative, yet least noticeable part of our entire package! **

Not only are our packages compostable, they’re also lighter than the Arbor Teas’ predecessors (paperboard tube and kraft bag) and lighter than many other options on the market. Overall, we were able to reduce the weight of our packaging materials by more than 60%! This translates to a meaningful reduction in the carbon footprint of Arbor Teas’ operations. And, in response to customer requests, this packaging also accommodates more tea . On average, Arbor Teas packages contain 27% more tea than they did previously. The result: MORE TEA, LESS PACKAGING!

**Prior to 2015, Arbor Teas used a removable paper tag adhered with a stretchy band to identify each tea in the compostable packing. This original label was not ideal, as customers could neither compost nor recycle the entire label. So, why did we use it? Because, unfortunately, there was no compostable adhesive available on the market prior to 2015. As a result, any label affixed to the compostable package would have rendered it non-compostable.

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