Wenzhuo Liu
Dirk Wens is a Belgian food packaging designer who specializes in products made from eco-friendly materials. A tea drinker, Dirk designed a single-use tea infuser product in 2024 and is currently focused on expanding into the European market while improving designs for other tea-related items. His close collaboration with Chinese factories for the last 25 years has given him insight into China’s rapid development and its active efforts in environmental protection, while also drawing his attention to Chinese tea culture and the recycling and reuse of tea packaging.
A tea drinker, Dirk designed a single-use tea infuser product in 2024 and is currently focused on expanding into the European market while improving designs for other tea-related items.
As a food packaging designer, Dirk’s entire career has been dedicated to using sustainable materials, such as biodegradable disposable tableware—cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, and more. In 2001, he began partnering with Chinese manufacturers of sugarcane fiber products, and since then he has traveled multiple times each year to raw material processing sites in Fujian Province and other regions. Fujian is China’s second-largest tea-producing province (after Yunnan), accounting for over 70% of the country’s oolong tea output and holding a dominant position in white tea production. Immersed in Fujian’s tea culture, Dirk gradually developed a love for tea drinking, emphasizing the importance of tea quality. Oolong tea is his favorite, and recently he has also started exploring white tea after his Yunnan travel.
Immersed in Fujian’s tea culture, Dirk gradually developed a love for tea drinking, emphasizing the importance of tea quality.
In 2024, Dirk was invited to participate in the Value4Pack packaging industry innovation competition organized by the European Union, where he was tasked with developing new sustainable packaging. This inspired him to create an eco-friendly single-use tea egg infuser. He gave his new design a Chinese name, “Cha Dan” (茶丹). By the end of 2025, he had devoted more time and energy on the European market, actively engaging in European tea events and joining the European Tea Association to promote the product—for example, a U.S. tea brand ordered 10,000 units. Dirk explains that ordinary disposable tea bags on the market are not truly environmentally friendly because their materials do not fully compost. The sugarcane fiber he chooses is made from fibrous residue left over after sugar production; it can fully biodegrade naturally and also meets the need for multiple brews. After gradually learning more about the tea industry and incorporating feedback from various parties, Dirk recently designed a new tea infuser with a larger capacity suitable for bulky loose-leaf teas, shaped to fit both mugs and traditional teacups.
The sugarcane fiber he chooses is made from fibrous residue left over after sugar production; it can fully biodegrade naturally and also meets the need for multiple brews.
Europe is the world’s largest coffee-consuming region. Driven by environmental concerns, the EU is promoting paper-based and bio-based materials to replace traditional plastics, while progressively restricting coffee packaging and plastic use—for instance, the EU requires a 5% reduction in packaging waste by 2030 and bans certain single-use plastic packaging in cafés. In 2017, Dirk designed a more eco-friendly disposable coffee dripper made from sugarcane fiber for a renowned Belgian premium coffee brand, replacing plastic drippers and non-fully-degradable filter paper. This dripper has been highly popular, with annual wholesale sales of around 35 million units to date. The European tea industry, also a hot-beverage sector, similarly champions reduced packaging, recyclability, and biodegradability, favoring paper-based materials and avoiding aluminum and plastic wherever possible.
In 2017, Dirk designed a more eco-friendly disposable coffee dripper made from sugarcane fiber for a renowned Belgian premium coffee brand, replacing plastic drippers and non-fully-degradable filter paper.
Dirk remarks that he has witnessed China’s remarkable development over the past 25 years, with significant advances in production capacity and efficiency. For example, the factory he has worked with for many years has evolved from relying on 1,000 workers to a automated production line operated by just 100 employees. He has also observed progress in environmental protection, particularly in household waste sorting and recycling of renewable resources in recent years. Overall, China’s environmental efforts have shifted from “end-of-pipe treatment” to “systemic governance,” achieving historic breakthroughs in air quality, water environment, energy structure, and institutional frameworks. Although Dirk has an office in Xiamen, he has worked and traveled in many Chinese cities, always taking the opportunity to enjoy good local tea. Since designing Cha Dan, he has become genuinely interested in Chinese tea culture, including tea production and processing, as well as tea ceremonies. Regarding tea packaging, because of the strict storage requirements for sealing and light protection, packaging often involves aluminum or plastic coatings, making complete biodegradability difficult. Dirk recommends recycling and reusing tea packaging to achieve environmental goals. He is aware that giving tea as a gift is a common custom in China, and he is delighted to often receive Chinese tea as a present. The beautiful and elegant gift boxes, he notes, can all be made from eco-friendly materials.
Although Dirk has an office in Xiamen, he has worked and traveled in many Chinese cities, always taking the opportunity to enjoy good local tea.