Beyond the Brew: Exploring Tea Waste Possibilities

Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is one of the most widely consumed beverages globally, and its increasing production has resulted in the generation of substantial quantities of tea waste from industrial processing, households, and agricultural activities. Improper disposal of this biomass contributes to environmental pollution and resource loss. This review critically examines the potential of tea waste as a sustainable feedstock for value-added products within a circular bioeconomy framework. Rich in lignocellulosic components, polyphenols, and essential nutrients, tea waste serves as an efficient substrate for both thermochemical and biological conversion processes. It can be transformed into renewable energy products such as biochar, bio-oil, biodiesel catalysts, bioethanol, and biogas, highlighting its role in sustainable energy production and carbon management. In addition, tea waste demonstrates significant potential in agricultural applications, where its use as compost and compost tea enhances soil fertility, microbial activity, and plant growth while suppressing soil-borne pathogens. It also serves as a supplementary substrate in mushroom cultivation and as a raw material in paper and composite production. Overall, the valorization of tea waste represents an environmentally sustainable and economically viable strategy for managing agro-industrial residues, improving resource efficiency, and supporting sustainable agricultural and energy systems.