PackCheck Loose Tea – 7 packaging types compared

Welcome to the fifth edition of our PackCheck series. This time, we took a close look at seven types of loose tea packaging and analyzed them in terms of performance, design, and sustainability. Which brands stood out in these three categories? And which packaging is our overall winner?

Requirements and brands analyzed

In this PackCheck, we are focusing solely on loose teas – this means that packaging with tea bags is not included here. The following brands are part of the analysis:

– Ankerkraut

– Bünting Tee

– Hampstead

– Kräutergarten Pommerland

– Lebensbaum

– Salus

– Twinings

The bar chart provides an overview of the points achieved by all the tea packaging tested – overall and in the three individual categories. Below, we explain in detail which characteristics the individual ratings are based on.

Findings from the performance comparison

Performance winner: Bünting Tea

In the performance comparison, Bünting Tea is our number one. The stand-up pouch made of paper-plastic composite scores with its large, striking front surface, which immediately catches the eye at the point of sale and ensures a strong brand presence. Thanks to the integrated tear-open tab, the packaging can be opened comfortably and in a controlled manner. Another advantage is the zipper for easy and reliable resealing. This protects the aroma of the loose tea even after it has been opened for the first time and allows it to be stored in its packaging for a long time. Overall, the stand-up pouch from Bünting Tee is easy to handle and can be emptied almost completely. As an all-round functional, user-friendly solution, the packaging performs excellently both in retail and in the consumer’s everyday life.

Further observations

The Salus brand performs similarly well to Bünting Tee with its block bottom bag, which is typical for loose tea and offers good product protection thanks to its multi-layer composite of paper and plastic. The closure label with a partially recessed adhesive surface allows for easy opening and resealing, but does not guarantee the complete tightness of a zipper system. On the shelf, the packaging impresses with its clear and coordinated brand presentation. Due to the folded bottom structure, product residues occasionally remain in the folds, which slightly limits the ability to empty the bag completely. A special feature is the integrated Braille on the front label – a detail that creates accessibility and is based on the classification of tea as a medicinal product.

Kräutergarten Pommerland also enters the race with a block bottom bag, but one made entirely of fiber materials such as paper and parchment substitute. The tamper-evident feature is a paper label that can be easily and cleanly torn off. A classic cardboard wire clip is used to reseal the bag, which is practical but does not provide an airtight seal and loses stability over time. Due to the bottom fold, isolated product residues may remain inside. Overall, the packaging conveys a solid and functional impression that fits in with the brand’s nature-loving image.

Twinings is the only brand in the comparison to be represented with a tinplate can. The robust material in combination with a sealed aluminum plate ensures excellent product protection and a long shelf life. The compact shape may be slightly less eye-catching at the point of sale, but the high-quality, classic look more than makes up for this. The opening is somewhat inconvenient: the metal lid tends to jam when removed, and the firmly sealed plate with a centrally placed tear tab can only be removed with considerable effort and is messy because it tears. On the other hand, the resealable closure works perfectly – and emptying the remaining contents is also easy. Overall, the tinplate can is a stable, storage-friendly, and durable packaging solution.

Hampstead uses a cardboard folding box as secondary packaging, which makes it stand out visually from the other candidates at the point of sale. Inside is a plastic tubular bag that encloses the loose tea. The brand uses a plastic label for tamper-evident protection, which adheres securely thanks to its full-surface bonding, but is difficult to remove. This requires a little patience on the part of the consumer. The cardboard box’s snap closure only seals the outer packaging, not the inner bag, which significantly limits product protection after opening. All in all, this is an attractively presented packaging solution that does not quite match the level of the best performers in terms of handling and convenience.

Ankerkraut comes in second to last in the performance comparison. The glass jar with a cork stopper gives a high-quality and natural impression, but its round shape offers little space for eye-catching brand presentation. In addition, opening the jar for the first time is somewhat cumbersome because the paper label has to be cut through at the front and back and the stopper can only be removed with considerable effort. The resealing mechanism works well in principle, but the cork does not guarantee complete tightness. The easy dosing and emptying of the remaining product are positive features, but the glass itself remains fragile and translucent, which significantly reduces overall product protection.

Lebensbaum comes in last place with a prefabricated flat-bottomed plastic bag. Although the packaging is extremely compact and material-efficient, it offers only a small surface area for advertising. Before opening, the bag provides solid product protection, but there is room for improvement in terms of handling: Consumers almost always need scissors to open it because the strong seal seams can only be separated with considerable effort and the packaging has no tear-open tab. This can easily lead to the entire bag tearing and the contents spilling out. In addition, there is no way to reseal the packaging, which means that the loose tea must be transferred to another container after opening. Overall, this solution proves to be much less convenient to use than the other variants.

Findings from the design comparison

Design winner: Hampstead

Hampstead comes out on top in the design category. The brand applies a clean brand clamp to the packaging and combines it with contemporary illustrations and very clear information. These characteristics ensure an all-round modern, high-quality packaging design that is also immediately recognizable. The only minor deduction is that Hampstead does not creatively incorporate the inner bag into the visual design. However, this is criticism at a high level.

Further observations

Twinings comes in second place with a traditional, high-quality appearance characterized by great clarity in typography, coat of arms imagery, and colorfulness. The iconic tin communicates heritage and premium quality, even if the category is not quite as impressive or clearly recognizable as with Hampstead.

Bünting Tee impresses with a modern, clean look. Particularly successful is the visible product integration through the image of the brewed tea in the transparent cup – this increases the appetite for the hot drink and confidence in the product and brand. In terms of brand perception, Bünting Tee still lags somewhat behind, but this does not change the fact that the overall design is extremely coherent and contemporary.

At Ankerkraut, it is mainly the strong brand clasp and the high-quality tonality that score points in the design category. In fact, the packaging could even compete with the top 3 if the graphics weren’t a little over-staged and thus appear restless, which in turn means that the reading flow suffers; the message is there, but it lacks clarity.

Kräutergarten Pommerland comes across as striking, fresh, and simple – which works well on the shelf. Names such as “Elfentraum” (fairy dream) are intended to appear creative, stimulate the imagination, and arouse the curiosity of consumers, which certainly appeals to some consumers, but can also have the opposite effect on the majority, because such names weaken orientation: What exactly is the variety, what are the benefits? The title, story, and visuals are not clearly synchronized here.

Lebensbaum’s packaging design is unpretentious and functional – in short, absolutely clean. The brand clasp is also sturdy. However, it lacks emotionality and visual excitement. We see a reliable, matter-of-fact appearance that surprises us very little.

Salus appears emotionless, even medicinal, and overall old-fashioned. The strict layout and sober typography ensure good readability, but lack warmth, modernity, and brand character—which is why Salus comes in last in the design comparison.

Let’s note: In principle, two clear directions dominate the packaging design of loose teas: modern, illustrative appearances on the one hand and classic premium codes on the other. Those who consistently combine brand management, clarity, and modern imagery are at the top of the field. Hampstead delivers the most well-rounded presentation with its thoroughly contemporary design, while Twinings sets the classic premium standard and Bünting Tee shows how modern minimalism and product visibility work on today’s shelves.

Findings from the sustainability comparison

Sustainability winner: Lebensbaum

In the sustainability comparison, Lebensbaum’s packaging plays to its strengths, thereby compensating to some extent for its performance weaknesses. The flat-bottomed bag made of mono-PP – including PP labels – appeals with its simple and material-efficient design. Thanks to the uniform plastic material, the packaging can be recycled very well and conveniently disposed of by the consumer in the yellow bin without separating the components. Clear disposal instructions are printed on the packaging. Only the full-surface coloring costs a few points. Overall, however, the packaging presents itself as an exemplary mono solution that impresses with its simplicity and recyclability.

Further observations

Kräutergarten Pommerland comes in second place. The paper-based block bottom bag with paper labels and cardboard closure clip is completely plastic-free. The combination of kraft paper and parchment substitute is recycling-friendly and can be disposed of in its entirety via the paper stream, as the brand points out on its packaging. The only problem is the wire integrated into the closure clip. It interferes with paper recycling and has to be sorted out during the recycling process. A positive feature is the natural appearance – only the labels are printed. All in all, Kräutergarten Pommerland offers a resource-saving solution that does not use plastic and scores points for its material honesty.

Third place goes to Twinings with its tinplate can and aluminum plate. The packaging impresses with its durability – once the tea has been consumed, it can be reused as a storage container for loose food or other items. It is also recycling-friendly because, apart from the plate, which is already separated when opened, it is a mono-material solution that consumers can easily recycle as metal. The disadvantage is the high amount of material used – in the truest sense of the word: tinplate is comparatively heavy and resource-intensive and results in a relatively high disposal volume in relation to the small product quantity.

This is followed by the Ankerkraut brand with glass packaging and a cork stopper. The glass is easily recyclable, but the cork can only be recycled at recycling centers, which limits the recyclability of the packaging via household collection. Other negative factors include the high use of materials and resources due to the weight of the glass and the lack of disposal instructions.

Overall, this is a solid solution, but not one that is consistently recyclable. Hampstead ranks fifth in the sustainability comparison.

The fibers from the cardboard box can be recovered very well, but the thin plastic tubular bag is very difficult to recycle. In addition, the bag is noticeably oversized and would actually be large enough to hold twice the amount of product. The manufacturer is therefore wasting material unnecessarily, which has a negative impact on resource efficiency.

One of the weakest solutions in the sustainability category is the otherwise impressive packaging from Bünting Tee. The stand-up pouch is a multi-layer, non-separable and therefore hardly recyclable composite of plastic, paper, and more plastic. Since the paper layer is completely enclosed by plastic, the paper fibers cannot be recovered during the recycling process. Incidentally, it also has no functional protective role. Particularly worthy of criticism: the matte, brown surface and the printed paper look give consumers the impression of natural, environmentally friendly paper packaging, even though it is in fact a composite with a high plastic content. Clear disposal instructions would be urgently needed here, but are completely absent. Overall, the packaging conveys a misleadingly sustainable image and is a classic example of greenwashing.

The block bottom bag from Salus comes in last in the sustainability comparison. It consists of a complex, material-intensive multi-layer composite with several layers of plastic and paper that are completely bonded or laminated together and cannot be separated or recycled. Both inside and outside, the packaging suggests the use of natural materials due to its

paper look; but in fact, two plastic layers are integrated – laminated on the outside and as a film layer on the inside. The packaging thus pretends to be sustainable when it is not. In addition, several paper and plastic labels are used, which further increases material consumption and has an even greater impact on the overall balance. The complex multi-layer structure is hardly functional and is out of proportion to its actual usefulness. Despite its good performance rating, the bag appears overengineered from a sustainability perspective and is anything but resource-efficient.

Summary and winner of our PackCheck for loose teas

The Twinings tin is not at the top of any of the three individual categories, but it achieves the best balance across all disciplines:

– Performance: very robust protection, resealable and ideal for long-term storage; only the initial opening is somewhat tedious.

– Design: classic premium look with great clarity and strong brand perception.

– Sustainability: monomaterial metal is generally easy to recycle and also durable – the tin can be reused. Despite the higher material usage, it is a credible, durable solution and ranks in the top third in the sustainability category.

Overall, Twinings packaging stands for premium design, robust product protection, reliable use, and solid recyclability thanks to its durability. These characteristics make it the overall winner of our PackCheck for loose teas.

The rectangular tinplate canister looks extremely high-quality, ensures clear brand presence on the shelf, and stands out clearly from the prevailing bag solutions in terms of form. In use, it scores points for its secure resealability. In addition, the canister is well suited for storing tea for longer periods of time. Removal and emptying of residues are uncomplicated. The only functional drawback remains the initial opening: removing the seal is somewhat tedious and the lid can get stuck when opening. After that, the stackable tin delivers the expected reliability – it is extremely sturdy and can be reused even after the tea has been consumed.

In addition to its durability, the monomaterial also makes the solution sustainable:

the can and lid are made entirely of tinplate; the small aluminum plate is negligible – this means that the design is fundamentally easy to recycle or reuse. However, a few disadvantages compared to lightweight bags should not go unmentioned: the higher material usage, the non-compressible disposal volume, and the lack of instructions for proper disposal. However, if the can is reused as a reusable container, the material footprint is significantly reduced – and the design, suitability for everyday use and solid recyclability combine to form a successful whole – it is precisely this balanced performance in all three categories that gives Twinings first place in our analysis.

Three statements from our managing director Christoph Waldau

“Bags dominate – but not all bags are sustainable.”

Stand-up and block bottom bags are popular and perform well, but ultimately only monomaterial concepts are convincing in terms of recyclability; paper-look composites fall significantly behind in the sustainability ranking.

“Cans polarize – top protection, high material weight.”

Metal cans score points for their premium look, robustness, and reusability; they win when durability is taken into account, as is the case with Twinings; however, without secondary use, they are (too) material-intensive.

“Design sells – details are decisive in everyday life.”

Modern illustrations and clear brand brackets ensure visibility, as Hampstead and Twinings in particular demonstrate; however, ease of opening and resealing determine everyday use – simple, tight closures beat beautiful but cumbersome designs.