Tea Plantations' Effect on the Environment
In order to meet the high demand for tea, large pieces of farmland and forest are converted into tea plantations, leading to decreased biodiversity, increased use of pesticides, land exhaustion, severe depletion of energy and more carbon dioxide emissions.
BIODIVERSITY
Tea plantations cause the loss of plants and animals through taking away their natural habitat. Tea farming related habitat loss has decreased numbers of the Lion Tailed Macaque in India and the Horton Plains Slender Loris in Sri Lanka, both of which are officially endangered species.
BIODIVERSITY
Tea plantations cause the loss of plants and animals through taking away their natural habitat. Tea farming related habitat loss has decreased numbers of the Lion Tailed Macaque in India and the Horton Plains Slender Loris in Sri Lanka, both of which are officially endangered species.
LAND EXHAUSTION
Intensive tea farming rarely allows the land to rest and restore itself, leading to less productive, nutrient-bare soil that is easily broken down, washed or blown away. Along with leading to more deforestation for more plantations, soil washed from plantations into the surrounding environment, such as wetlands and waterways, pollute the water and turn away wildlife.
Intensive tea farming rarely allows the land to rest and restore itself, leading to less productive, nutrient-bare soil that is easily broken down, washed or blown away. Along with leading to more deforestation for more plantations, soil washed from plantations into the surrounding environment, such as wetlands and waterways, pollute the water and turn away wildlife.
ENERGY
According to UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), it takes more energy to process one kilogram of finished tea than it does to process one kilogram of steel. The high energy consumption leads to severe deforestation for the firewood needed in the drying process in some countries, like India for example. In some parts of East Africa, where energy is expensive and inconsistent, many tea factories install standby diesel generators that pollute the surrounding environment. |
CARBON FOOTPRINT
A cup of tea without milk consumes enough fossil fuels to release 21 grams of carbon dioxide; with cow milk, it releases 53 grams of carbon dioxide due to the methane emissions of cows. Drinking four mugs of tea with milk per day would release the same amount of carbon dioxide as driving 60 miles in an average car.
A cup of tea without milk consumes enough fossil fuels to release 21 grams of carbon dioxide; with cow milk, it releases 53 grams of carbon dioxide due to the methane emissions of cows. Drinking four mugs of tea with milk per day would release the same amount of carbon dioxide as driving 60 miles in an average car.