Are you searching for sustainable options for food packaging? Join us in our business-to-business blog as we unravel the most environmentally friendly food packaging choices available today. Discover how you can meet consumer demands for eco-conscious solutions while maintaining the integrity and freshness of your products.
Let’s uncover the best options for recyclable food packaging that support both your business and the planet.
Key Takeaways:
- Paper and cardboard are currently the most practical and widely available forms of sustainable food packaging, offering recyclability, renewable sourcing, and a lower environmental footprint compared to plastic.
- While glass is highly sustainable, it’s not always suitable for takeaway use—making fibre-based options like paperboard and corrugated boxes the go-to for eco-conscious food packaging.
- PackQueen is committed to sustainability through initiatives like partnering with One Tree Planted and offering packaging made from 80–100% recycled or responsibly sourced materials.
Eco-Conscious Packaging: Why It Matters
We all want to do our part to help the planet—but we also need convenient ways to package and transport food. The good news? Environmentally friendly packaging for food is more accessible than ever.
Contrary to popular belief, not all takeaway or fast-food packaging is harmful. In fact, when you choose the right sustainable packaging for food, you can significantly reduce your environmental footprint.
What’s the Most Sustainable Food Packaging Material?
When it comes to sustainability, glass often tops the list. It's reusable, made without plastics or resins, and 100% recyclable. However, glass isn’t always practical—especially for takeaway or fast-food service.
So, what are the most viable, scalable options for food businesses?
Let’s start with what not to use:
- Single-use plastics – These are the worst offenders, including straws, plastic containers, and styrofoam. They are rarely recycled and take hundreds of years to break down.
- BPA plastics – Common in food-grade packaging, BPA (Bisphenol A) has been linked to serious health issues. It’s neither biodegradable nor safe.
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Plastic takeaway packaging – Convenient but harmful, most plastic food containers don’t get recycled and contribute significantly to landfill waste.
What Are the Best Sustainable Alternatives?
There are many exciting developments in sustainable packaging for food, though not all are yet widely adopted. Materials like rice paper and bamboo are extremely eco-friendly, but currently hard to scale.
Paper and cardboard offer the most practical and sustainable options
- Made from renewable resources (e.g. sustainably managed forests)
- Can be easily manufactured with minimal waste
- Fully recyclable and biodegradable
- Suitable for a wide range of takeaway food packaging
These materials support a circular economy. A cardboard noodle box used for takeaway today could be recycled into a burger box tomorrow and reused again later for another product. That’s the power of recyclable and biodegradable food packaging.
PackQueen’s Commitment to Sustainable Food Packaging
At PackQueen, sustainability is more than a buzzword—it’s part of our business DNA.
We’ve partnered with One Tree Planted, a global reforestation non-profit. For every order placed on our website, a tree is planted in one of their Australian reforestation sites.
Our ongoing sustainability efforts include:
- Using 80%–100% recycled materials across our product range
- Sourcing the remaining materials from responsibly managed forests
- Offering a wide selection of eco-friendly packaging for food, including paper boxes, cardboard tubes, bags, and takeaway containers
Our goals:
- Support global reforestation
- Empower customers with practical sustainability choices
- Raise awareness around ecosystem restoration
Want to learn more? Explore our One Tree Planted partnership and join us in making a positive impact.
A Final Word: Small Choices, Big Impact
We understand that many packaging products are used once and discarded. That’s why we design with recyclability and sustainability in mind—so your business can make responsible choices without compromising on quality.
Next time you order lunch, ask for paper or cardboard packaging instead of plastic or styrofoam. And better yet, bring your own reusable bag or tote.
Together, we can build a more sustainable future—one box at a time.
