Tea Bags (box of 40)

Material Composition Assumptions

A standard box of 40 tea bags weighing approximately 50 grams contains several key material components. The dried tea leaves comprise roughly 32 grams representing the largest portion by weight at 64 percent. Individual tea bag papers made from cellulose or wood pulp fibers account for approximately 4 grams or 8 percent of total weight. Heat-sealing elements using corn-based PLA or thermoplastic fibers add another 1 gram representing 2 percent. The cardboard packaging box contributes roughly 10 grams or 20 percent of total product weight. External plastic film wrapping adds approximately 2 grams representing 4 percent. Optional string attachments and paper tags contribute the remaining 1 gram or 2 percent when present.

Manufacturing Geography

China serves as the primary manufacturing region for tea bag products due to its dominant position in global tea cultivation and processing infrastructure. The Chinese national electrical grid operates at an average carbon intensity of 555 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt hour as of 2023. This relatively high grid intensity reflects the continued reliance on coal-fired power generation across major tea processing regions. Manufacturing concentration in China allows for integrated supply chains spanning from tea gardens through final packaging operations within the same geographic region.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	555 gCO2/kWh	35	Baseline
India (Kerala)	721 gCO2/kWh	38	+8.6%
Sri Lanka	423 gCO2/kWh	31	-11.4%
Kenya	312 gCO2/kWh	28	-20.0%
Indonesia	709 gCO2/kWh	37	+5.7%

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Detailed energy consumption data from tea processing facilities including specific drying and steaming equipment efficiency ratings and renewable energy procurement contracts.

2. Agricultural management records documenting fertilizer application rates, irrigation methods, and mechanization levels across source tea gardens with geographic coordinates.

3. Packaging material specifications identifying exact cardboard recycled content percentages, plastic film polymer types, and tea bag material composition with supplier certifications.

4. Transportation logistics documentation covering shipping distances, modal split between ocean and land transport, and cold chain requirements from processing facilities to distribution centers.

5. End-of-life management data showing regional waste treatment methods, composting infrastructure availability, and plastic recycling rates for tea bag materials.

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-grave emissions including consumer use phase water heating which dominates the lifecycle impact profile.

• Scope 3 emissions constitute 80 percent of total footprint reflecting the downstream consumer preparation process and upstream agricultural production systems.

• Functional unit covers one complete box containing 40 individual tea bag servings based on standard retail packaging formats.

• Microplastic release during steeping is excluded from carbon accounting but represents a significant environmental concern for plastic-based tea bag materials.

• Water consumption footprints are tracked separately from carbon metrics due to regional variability in water stress conditions across tea growing regions.

• Processing energy intensity varies substantially between tea varieties with white tea requiring less intensive processing compared to fermented black tea products.