Laura Fay: A Brewing Revelation

A lesson from the compost bin had Laura Fay brewing tea and realizations.

I developed my tea drinking habit while growing up in Ireland. The shrill of the kettle, the ‘scalding’ of the tea pot, and the pretty tea-cozies, were the comforting fabric of our daily lives.

Recently however, this sense of comfort was replaced with a feeling of stress and anxiety. It all started with my 93-year-old dad explaining how he was having trouble with his backyard compost – his tea bags were not decomposing as he’d expected.

As we enjoyed a cup of tea together, I recalled a recent article I’d read about plastics infiltrating unexpected corners of our lives, and most alarming of all, plastics infiltrating our bodies. My curiosity was piqued as I scrutinized the tea packaging. There, in tiny print, amidst the flowery marketing jargon, it jumped out at me: “Bags made with a blend of paper and polypropylene fibers for enhanced strength and durability.”

A wave of dismay washed over me as I contemplated the implications. How long had I been consuming these micro-plastic pollutants? I was shattered, and felt betrayed by a product I had trusted to provide comfort without consequence.

My initial shock soon transformed into determination. Armed with newfound knowledge, I embarked on a mission to reclaim my tea-drinking experience. I sought out brands committed to sustainability, opting for loose-leaf teas, and tea bags made from natural fibers.

Now, each cup feels like a small victory. The horror of discovering plastic in my tea bags turned my daily ritual into a conscious choice for reducing my environmental footprint and safeguarding my family’s health —one mindful cup at a time.

With a Perspective, I’m Laura Fay.

Laura Fay is a technology business advisor. She lives in Los Altos.