Tea, coffee and water without the plastic
Hot drinks are a daily, repeated contact with plastic. Tea bags, pods and bottled water are the big three.
By PlasticFreeHome Research Team · Reviewed by Khalid · Updated 26 September 2026 · 1 min read
The drinks you have every day are among the highest-priority swaps in any home, because they combine hot water, plastic and repetition.
Tea bags
Many tea bags are sealed with polypropylene, and mesh "pyramid" bags are often nylon or PLA. How much plastic reaches your cup is still debated, but loose-leaf tea with a steel infuser removes the question entirely. See plastic tea bags → loose leaf.
Coffee pods
Plastic pods force near-boiling water through plastic under pressure. A cafetière or moka pot is cheaper per cup too. See coffee pods → cafetière.
Bottled water
Researchers have found hundreds of thousands of plastic particles per litre of bottled water. UK tap water is safe and costs a fraction of a penny per litre. See bottled water → tap.
Takeaway cups
Paper cups are lined with plastic. Bring a steel cup — many cafés give a discount. See takeaway cups → reusable.
Sources
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Top swaps in drinks & snacks
Bottled water → tap water in a steel bottle
Bottled water carries hundreds of thousands of plastic particles per litre. UK tap water is cheap and safe.
Swap first · about 3.0 kg of plastic a year
Plastic tea bags → loose-leaf or plastic-free bags
Many tea bags are sealed with polypropylene or made of plastic mesh. Hot water plus plastic, several times a day; how much reaches your cup is still debated.
High priority · about 120 g of plastic a year
Plastic coffee pods → cafetière or moka pot
One pod a day is over a kilo of hard-to-recycle packaging a year, and hot pressurised water runs through plastic.
High priority · about 1.0 kg of plastic a year