INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO OPTIMIZE TEA WASTE FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

The tea industry, crucial for many economies, faces significant waste challenges from agricultural fields and processing facilities.This study introduces an innovative, eco-friendly approach to mitigate tea waste through composting, transforming it into valuable products that bolster sustainable agriculture and support carbon neutrality goals.This approach, which emphasises the creation of compost, biodegradable mulching sheets and tea peat from tea waste, offers alternatives to plastic mulch and coco-peat, enhancing weed suppression, soil moisture retention, and soil health.Detailed analyses encompassed the compost's nutrient content, pH levels, moisture content, and derivatives.Tea peat exhibited exceptional water retention capabilities, suggesting its potential to optimise soil moisture management.This study underscores the advantages of converting tea waste into beneficial products, promoting sustainable waste management and advancing agricultural practices towards carbon neutrality.By reducing dependency on synthetic inputs, this research highlights the dual benefits of waste valorisation and environmental sustainability in the tea industry, instilling hope for a more sustainable future.