Green group points to studies indicating single plastic tea bag can release up to 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles after being steeped in hot water
About 80 per cent of Hongkongers are unaware of the risk of ingesting microplastics when drinking tea and coffee, according to a survey by a green group that urged the government to follow Germany’s example and include a warning about it on food labels.
Steven Choi Chun-pang, chief operating officer of the Green Council, said 70 per cent of respondents did not know how to identify products containing microplastics and only 20 per cent actively looked for them.
There is no legislation in Hong Kong that regulates microplastic labelling.
“Germany rolled out a microplastic-free label not long ago, which covers products from food, personal hygiene and make-up to cleaning products,” Choi said.
