TEAS' TEA® Maker - ITO EN to Sell Tea Bench Made From Recycled Green Tea Leaves

NEW YORK, April 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ITO EN, the world's leading supplier of loose leaf green tea and ready-to-drink beverage, and makers of the award-winning line of bottled green tea-TEAS' TEA® has announced that they will begin selling their Tea Bench, made from recycled green tea leaves used from the bottling production of their beverages. In the company's efforts to reuse and recycle their used tea leaves, an innovative eco-friendly synthetic resin was developed to create various products ranging from vending machines, floor mats and public benches. The products have been a part of the companies CSR recycling activities that blend harmoniously into the environment. With green tea known to have antibacterial and antiviral properties, the products retain the deodorizing and antibacterial properties. The Tea Bench is composed of 20% recycled tea leaves and recycled food trays.

"We are pleased that our Tea Bench will not only be enjoyed by tea enthusiasts and beyond, but a reminder that a common waste product such as used tea leaves, can become a beneficial resource to society," says Rona Tison, sr. vice president-corporate relations of ITO EN(North America) INC. "As the distribution of our teas continue to expand, we are committed to applying our CSR and recycling ethics to our operation."

The company recently reduced the packaging of their ready-to-drink TEAS' TEA® Unsweetened line to a lighter gauge PET1 recyclable bottle, reducing their carbon footprint and making it the distinct leader in the bottled tea category with only 18.7 grams, compared to the industry standard of 24 grams. The non-leaching BPA free bottles are fully wrapped minimizing light exposure to reduce oxidation and preserve the antioxidants in the tea.

With consumer demand for healthier beverages, ITO EN's portfolio of tea beverages are gaining rapid distribution in the marketplace. A pioneer and leader in the unsweetened tea market, ITO EN has been recognized for their recycling tea leaf program, being awarded the Grand Prize by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan and the Environment Minister's Prize for developing eco-friendly products.

The Tea Bench will be available by special order on the company website-www.itoen.com, and will retail for  $925.00.

About ITO EN(North America) INC.

ITO EN(North America) INC., a subsidiary of ITO EN, LTD., is the nation's leading purveyor of green tea products and beverages. The company is an innovator in the beverage industry, marketing award-winning Japanese tea lines in the U.S., including: TEAS' TEA®, Traditional Japanese Tea (Oi Ocha - Japan's 1 Selling Green Tea), and ITO EN Shots. Voted as "Best Tea" in New York City's Zagat's Gourmet and Entertainment Guide and hailed as "Model Tea" by Beverage World Magazine, ITO EN is dedicated to creating an authentic green tea culture in the United States. Committed to products that embody the company's five principles of Natural, Safe, Healthy, Well-designed and Delicious, ITO EN is uniquely positioned as a pioneer in the tea industry.

For more information, please visit Itoen.com or Teastea.com.

TEAS TEA® is an all natural ready-to-drink tea, named from the Japanese expression Ocha no Naka No Ocha, simply meaning "The Tea of ALL Teas!" With thoughtful sourcing and meticulous brewing methods, TEAS' TEAS'® proprietary filtration method reduces sediment creating a clean finish. The company has been a pioneer and leader in the unsweetened tea market for over 10 years, and continues to expand its distribution in natural and mainstream markets.

SOURCE ITO EN(North America) INC.