A lot has changed since your local fish and chip shop would wrap your fishermanâs basket in yesterdayâs newspaper. Modern food packaging options abound, and choosing the right packaging materials for food businesses means more than just keeping food fresh and fit for consumption. Increasingly, cafes and restaurants are seeking solutions that enhance their brand and help them differentiate from competitors in a crowded market.
With so many options available, it can feel overwhelming to choose between plastic, cardboard, sugarcane and other alternatives. This guide breaks down the most common food packaging choices, explains their strengths and limitations and shows how to match materials with your menu and customer expectations.
Understanding Traditional Food Packaging Materials
Letâs explore the most common materials used by Australian cafĂ©s and takeaway food businesses.
Plastic Packaging
Plastic remains one of the most widely used food packaging materials because itâs versatile, lightweight and strong. Two plastics dominate food service:
- PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): Common in clear containers, salad tubs and cold drink cups. PET offers excellent visibility and barrier properties, making it ideal for showcasing and preserving fresh food items.
- PP (Polypropylene): A popular choice for hot food containers since it tolerates higher temperatures and can be microwave safe.
While many businesses are moving towards recyclable or compostable options to meet customer expectations for sustainability, plastic food packaging remains an economical and effective packaging solution.
Paper and Cardboard Packaging
Paper and cardboard are go-to options for cafés and takeaways wanting a natural, rustic look. From kraft burger and snack hinged boxes to paper sandwich bags and corrugated cardboard boxes (such as pizza boxes), these materials are biodegradable and recyclable when not heavily coated.
Paper packaging is especially good for branding since logos and custom prints stand out crisply. Itâs also lightweight and cost-effective. While less resistant to moisture or grease compared with plastics, using thick paperboard materials and/or adding grease-proof paper linings can help improve performance and preserve recyclability of the raw materials.
Sugarcane and Plant-Based Packaging
Sugarcane (bagasse) is one of the fastest-growing alternatives to plastic. Itâs made from the fibrous by-product of sugar production, creating sturdy and compostable containers. Sugarcane trays, bowls and containers suit both hot and cold food and resist grease effectively. Best of all, they break down naturally after disposal.
For cafés looking to reduce their environmental footprint while keeping functionality high, sugarcane packaging ticks all the boxes.
Polystyrene Packaging
Polystyrene (Styrofoam) has long been used for takeaway containers and cups thanks to its insulation properties and low cost. Itâs lightweight, keeps food warm and is still widely available.
Metal Packaging
While more commonly used by food manufacturing companies in the form of metal cans for drinks and long shelf-life products, metal packaging also plays a role in takeaway through aluminium products.
Foil trays are excellent for selling gourmet meals, baked dishes like lasagne or pies. Popular fast foods like kebabs and hot chicken are often served in foil-lined bags to keep the food hot inside without being uncomfortable to hold onto. In addition to aluminiumâs excellent heat insulation, itâs moisture-proof, lightweight, durable and fully recyclable.
Material Comparison at a Glance
Choosing the right food packaging materials often comes down to a balance of ensuring food safety, meeting customer needs and advancing environmental responsibility.Hereâs a quick comparison table of the various materials most food packaging is made out of:
| Material | Food Grade | Microwave Safe | Freezer Safe | Best Uses | Environmental Profile |
| PET Plastic | Yes | No (unless labelled microwave-safe) | No | Cold drinks, salads, & clear display items | Recyclable in many council systems |
| PP Plastic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Hot food, soups, microwave meals | Recyclable |
| Paper/Card | Yes | Sometimes | Generally not | Pizza boxes, sandwich wraps, bags | Recyclable/compostable, renewable source |
| Sugarcane | Yes | Yes | Yes | Bowls, trays, clamshells, hot food | Compostable, eco-friendly alternative |
| Polystyrene | Yes | No | Yes | Budget hot food and drinks | Not widely recyclable |
| Aluminium | Yes | No | Yes | Wrapping hot food, foil containers, gourmet takeaway meals | Widely recyclable |
Popular Options for the Takeaway Food Industry
Beyond materials, small businesses also need to consider format. Here are the most common types of formats used when packaging food for takeaway.
Clamshell Packaging
These folding cartons are ideal for fast food favourites like burgers and fish. Easy to load, transport and stack, clamshells are typically available in corrugated cardboard or sugarcane. PET plastic options are better suited to cold snacks like fruit salads, fresh wraps or sandwiches.
Flexible Packaging
This includes wraps, greaseproof paper and plastic wrap or film. Perfect for wrapping sandwiches, burgers, or baked goods, flexible packaging keeps things neat and tidy while extending shelf life of your daily offerings.
Food Containers: Bowls, Tubs and Compartmentalised Trays
Common options include:
- Bowls for salads, noodles, rice dishes and soups.
- Plastic containers with lids, made of food-safe polypropylene plastic (PP), making them ideal for hot food like curries, stir fries and soups.
- Compartment options, great for bento-style meals or platters.
Paper, sugarcane and plastic containers each offer different benefits depending on whether food is hot, cold or oily.
Cups and Drinkware
Takeaway paper coffee cups and plastic cups for juices, smoothies and other cold drinks are a daily need for most cafés. Paper cups lined with bioplastic are increasingly popular as an alternative to polystyrene. Pair them with recyclable or compostable lids for a complete solution.
Paper Bags and Carry Bags
Paper bags are simple, sustainable and customisable. They make branding easy and give customers a practical way to carry multiple items. For eco-conscious businesses, paper is often the preferred alternative to plastic bags.
Food Safety and Food Packaging: Technology Meets Taste
The main purpose of modern food packaging is to maintain food quality and safety. Choosing the wrong packaging risks leaks, contamination or unhappy customers. Here are some key considerations:
- Food-safe materials: Always ensure packaging is certified as food grade to avoid contamination.
- Microwave safe: PP plastic and sugarcane are microwave-friendly, giving customers the flexibility to reheat meals.
- Freezer safe: PET and PP plastics handle freezing well, while paper and sugarcane have limited cold storage performance.
- Barrier protection: Packaging should resist grease, sauces, or acidic foods to avoid leaks.
Safe, functional packaging protects both your food and your reputation.
Satisfying Public Appetite for More Sustainable Alternatives
As more people seek to reduce their own environmental impact, many customers now actively seek eco-friendly food packaging. A recent survey found Australians are willing to pay more for sustainable types of packaging for food. This shift is changing the way cafés and food outlets approach their packaging mix.
- Recyclable materials: Paper, cardboard and some plastics can be collected through kerbside recycling, reducing packaging waste diverted to landfill.
- Compostable packaging: Organic materials like sugarcane, some paper-based products and certified compostable plastics break down in composting systems.
- Reusable options: Encouraging customers to bring their own cups or containers is another step towards reducing waste.
For small businesses, offering sustainable food packaging isnât just about doing the right thing for the environment. Itâs also about meeting customer expectations and building loyalty with eco-conscious diners.
Types of Food Packaging FAQs
Your menu’s temperature and contents should dictate your material choice and packaging process. Clear PET containers are excellent for showcasing cold foods for maximum shelf appeal, including deli salads or fresh produce like fruit. For hot, greasy foods like burgers and fries, corrugated cardboard with grease paper linings work well.
For many hot meals, heat-resistant sugarcane and lined paperboard containers are great, eco-friendly options. However, when dealing with very liquid-heavy dishes like soups and curries where a completely secure, leak-proof seal is the top priority, PP plastic containers have an advantage. Their tight-sealing plastic lids offer the best protection against spills during transport.
Yes. Sugarcane is heat-resistant, making it suitable for curries, stir fries and other hot takeaway meals.
High-quality packaging aids food preservation, protecting your fare from leaks, contamination, or early spoilage. This means customers enjoy their meal in peak condition, reducing the chance of food wastage.
Glass packaging, including glass bottles and glass jars, has a premium look and works well for food packaging applications used by manufacturers for retail food products. But for cafĂ©s and takeaways, itâs often impractical due to its weight, cost and breakage risk. For most operators, lighter and more cost-effective options like plastic, paper-based products or sugarcane are more appropriate.
Primary packaging is the container that directly touches the food (like a burger box). Secondary packaging groups items together (like a paper bag). Tertiary packaging is for bulk transport (like cardboard cartons). For small food businesses, most decisions focus on the primary layer. The full food packaging supply chain, from food manufacturers to cafés, relies on these layers to deliver meals safely.
Yes. Most suppliers can deliver packaging in large quantities, ensuring cafés and takeaways never run short. Ordering bulk packaging can also help reduce costs and maintain reliable stock during busy service periods.