Teatogo highlights Bebo Plastik innovation

RPC Bebo Plastik has developed an innovative lid in conjunction with Hälssen & Lyon, one of Europe’s leading tea manufacturers, that solves the traditional problem of what to do with tea bags during ‘on the go’ drinking.

29/05/06 RPC Bebo Plastik has developed an innovative lid in conjunction with Hälssen & Lyon, one of Europe’s leading tea manufacturers, that solves the traditional problem of what to do with tea bags during ‘on the go’ drinking.

Hälssen & Lyon’s research suggests that out-of-house tea consumption represents nearly 50% of the market. Yet tea has traditionally suffered next to coffee, due to the inconvenience caused by discarding the tea bag once the tea is brewed.

As Jörn Burchard, Product Manager at Hälssen & Lyon, explains, “Tea needs a certain amount of time in hot water to develop its flavour. For busy consumers on the move, it isn’t convenient to wait until the tea is ready, therefore typically they will carry the drink with the tea bag inside whilst it is brewing. Previously, this process would involve stopping to remove the lid and take out the bag, which causes risk of spillage or splashes.”

The new teatogo® concept avoids this difficulty by keeping the bag inside the cup for the duration of consumption. When the desired brewing time is reached, the tea bag is pulled out of the drink into a special compartment in the lid by means of a cardboard flap attached to the bag. Once the drink is finished, the cup can be disposed of with the bag still inside.

Having devised the patented lid concept, Hälssen & Lyon turned to RPC Bebo Plastik to design and manufacture the product. RPC’s technical expertise was required to develop a means of accommodating the compartment, a shape that cannot be thermoformed in one piece.

The solution is to manufacture the design in two sections: the central lid, incorporating a drinking hole and the compartment for the lid; and a platine, which is welded to the lid after forming. A small gap is left between the components through which the cardboard flap is placed.

Both components are thermoformed in PS, with the platine printed with the teatogo® logo for additional branding. The lid is designed for compatibility with most conventional disposable plastic or paper cups in 90mm diameter.

To complement the packaging innovation, Hälssen & Lyon is launching teatogo® with eleven premium leaf tea blends.