5 Tips for Steeping a Sustainable Cup of Tea

Here’s how to make your Yogi tea even better for the planet.⁠

At Yogi, we’re committed to reducing our environmental impact at every step in the production process, from farm to cup. We believe our community also values leaving a light footprint on the planet, and that individual action can drive positive change. While you can count on every Yogi tea bag to be produced in a way that uplifts communities and regenerates nature, here are five tips you can integrate into teatime at home to make each cup even more sustainable.
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⁠1. Only Boil What You Need

Every time a cup of tea is made, people heat water to brew it. Boiling water, of course, requires energy, and while a cup of tea’s carbon footprint varies depending on the type of energy you’re using, there’s a simple way to cut down on those emissions. Next time you’re brewing a cup of tea, try to only heat the water you need for that cup.
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⁠2. Skip the Milk

We love ice cream and a frothy latte as much as anyone, but there is an environmental cost to these treats. The cattle industry accounts for 40 percent of all methane emissions from global food production, a greenhouse gas that’s 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The good news is that you can get the same velvety sweetness from a non-dairy alternative such as oat or almond milk.

3. Compost Used Tea Leaves

When food waste ends up in a landfill, it decomposes and produces methane emissions—one of the largest sources of this greenhouse gas in the United States. But if you keep food waste out of the trash and compost it, you get rich fertilizer instead. Take advantage of municipal composting options in your local area, or you can do it yourself with an easy at-home composting guide. 

4. Reuse Your Mug

Multiple cups of tea in a day? Consider us guilty as charged. Rather than putting your mug into the dishwasher right away, continue to use it for the rest of the day. A quick rinse to wash out any residual tea should be sufficient to enjoy a fresh cup without using all the energy, soap, and water a trip through the dishwasher requires. And of course, if you’re grabbing tea on the go, always tote a reusable travel mug.

 5. Scrub Dishes the Green Way

If you’re anything like us, you’re often wondering which way of doing things is more sustainable. Most research shows that using an energy-efficient dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand actually saves water and energy. If you are handwashing, don’t leave the water running while you scrub.