For all who like to see my #scrollBook project in progress, I start a thread for new photos.
The idea: Having art small enough for a handbag or hanged on a wall. 'Writing' a #book that can't get copied by AI or people - but can be inspiring for others.
Materials: A vintage wooden bobbin, tea-dyed coton flannel, #teaBags, #sareeSilk scraps, #lace, #embroidery, glass rocailles.
@embroidery @textilearts @fibrearts

The Ultimate Guide to #PlasticFree Tea Bags UK

Are your tea bags really plastic free and biodegradable?

We investigate what makes a #tea bag #biodegradable and #plastic free. Yes, it’s confusing, because even when tea companies say their bags are ‘biodegradable’ or ‘plant-based’, it can still contain a type of #bioplastic (PLA)

https://www.zerowasted.co.uk/plastic-free-tea-bags

Commercial #teabags release millions of #microplastics, entering human intestinal cells
A  new study finds that polymer-based commercial #tea bags release billions of nanoplastics and microplastics when infused. It also shows for the first time that these particles are capable of being absorbed by human intestinal cells, entering the bloodstream, and potentially affecting human #health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-commercial-tea-bags-millions-microplastics.html

https://interestingengineering.com/health/tea-bags-shedding-plastics

Several years ago i perceived this might be a health hazard, as well as certainly an ecological hazard, so i abandoned all teabags in favour instead of loose-leaf tea. Afaik some teabag manufacturers claim their products to be safe / plastics-free, but to be blunt, i chose to disbelieve them & change anyway.

Another reason for drinking #LooseleafTea instead of tea that comes in #TeaBags: “Scientists from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona have warned that a single tea bag can release billions of dangerous #microplastics into your body.” https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14229649/Scientists-issue-urgent-warning-drinking-TEA-billions-dangerous-microplastics.html

Composting/gardening note: One item I do not compost (unfortunately, have in the past) are plastic tea bags. Plastic tea bags are a notorious source of microplastics (both for the environment, and for people). Don't use them.

Study: "Plastic Teabags Release Billions of Microparticles and Nanoparticles into Tea"

"...We show that steeping a single plastic teabag at brewing temperature (95 °C) releases approximately 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics into a single cup of the beverage...."

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b02540

PSA: I asked #Twinings whether their #teabags contain #microplastics. They said, "The tea bags used to make our product are made from tea paper, a plant-based biodegradable material and this product is third-party certified as home compostable."
Also, "No plastics or glues are used in the tea bags."
#tea #environmentalism #health

Birch polypore and mint tea