If you’re selling sushi, you know how much disposable packaging is required for takeaway orders.

From sushi trays to sushi boxes and containers, a lot goes into keeping your dishes fresh and delicious. That’s before you’ve considered the extras, like chopsticks, sauce pots, condiments and what you’ll use for drinks packaging.

That’s why we’re here to help you find the most sustainable sushi packaging for your sushi bar, restaurant, or takeaway service. Let’s get started!

Related: Bubble Tea: Everything You Need to Know

Getting Started with Sushi Packaging

Sushi is one of the healthiest takeaway options, making it incredibly popular with consumers. It comes in many shapes and sizes, combining raw fish, seafood, vegetables and rice. While the art of creating delicious sushi may be intricate, packaging sushi is relatively straightforward. 

This presents your brand with a unique opportunity to go the extra mile and give your customers an unforgettable experience with your sushi packaging. The most cost-effective way to do this is with sustainable packaging alternatives or branded packaging options.

To get you started, here’s a quick rundown of the different kinds of eco-friendly packaging you can use for maki, uramaki, temaki sashimi and nigiri:

	Sushi Trays with Lids Sushi trays are the most common packaging option for takeaways. Serving sushi rolls on these kinds of trays makes artful presentation simple. The transparent lids are recyclable and keep everything fresh until it’s ready to be eaten. Plus, your customers will be able to see their delicious sushi inside its packaging. Made from bagasse, the trays are 100% plastic-free and completely biodegradable.
	Sushi Platters with Lids Trays are great for individual orders, while sushi platters are better for sharing. They’re also available with matching lids to protect your food and make transportation hassle-free. These platters are also made from eco-friendly bagasse and come in small, medium and large sizes.
	Compartment Trays with Lids Serving more than just sushi? Compartmentalised trays help keep sides, sauces and condiments separate. This means your customers can have a restaurant-style experience wherever they take their food. They’re also available with recyclable lids to keep their takeaway food tasting great. Plus, these trays are 100% biodegradable.

Our sushi packaging is versatile and can be used with an array of other food products, minimising the amount of packaging you need to buy separately.

Discover more sustainable cold food packaging.

Eco-Friendly Materials for Sushi Packaging

Most sushi trays and boxes are made from plastic. While cost-effective, it’s not eco-friendly and contributes to plastic pollution. Most of the time, it’s not recycled — or recyclable. The good news is that there are a few sustainable, food-safe materials for sushi packaging to suit your brand and budget:

	Bagasse Sushi Trays We’ve created sturdy sushi trays with a natural aesthetic, made from bagasse, an organic material made from the byproducts of sugarcane harvesting. Bagasse is popular with brands ready to move away from plastic-based packaging since it’s 100% biodegradable and compostable. Pair these trays with recyclable lids for maximum sustainability.
	Kraft Sushi Boxes and Trays Kraft packaging has a higher resistance to moisture and a rustic finish. Trays are ideal if you don’t need a lid for your packaging, but Kraft food boxes are a great option if your customers are taking away their meals. The Kraft packaging we stock is available in various sizes and is 100% recyclable, biodegradable and compostable.
	Fastpac Packaging for Sushi Fastpac packaging is closest to the classic sushi packaging customers are used to. The range includes Fastpac sushi trays, bowls and compartment trays made from 100% recycled polypropylene (PP). All are available with matching Fastpac lids for completely recyclable packaging that’s easy to dispose of responsibly.

Want to customise your sushi packaging? Get in touch for a free design quote.

Can You Recycle Sushi Containers?

Before you recycle sushi packaging, check what it’s made from. Some plastic sushi containers are recyclable, but some aren’t. Check the resin identification codes (RIC) stamped on the packaging to see whether or not your packaging can be recycled — it should be a small number in a triangle. 

If no number is present, the best thing to do for the environment is to dispose of it in general waste. This seems like bad practice, but if the packaging material can’t be identified, it will be rejected by recycling centres along with food packaging spoiled by oil, grease or moisture. 

To avoid this issue, retailers should err on the side of caution and choose recycled, biodegradable and compostable food packaging. Your sushi will be just as delectable if you use eco-friendly trays, containers and accessories! 

Related: The Best Packaging Materials for Takeaway Food and Drinks in 2022

Why Use Eco-Friendly Packaging for Sushi?

In the UK, the market for Japanese and sushi restaurants is valued at £1.3 billion, employing around 32,000 people across nearly 3000 businesses. With further growth in the sector anticipated, retailers will face stiffer competition from new and established brands.

This is where standing out becomes more about your mission and values rather than novelty. So what can retailers do?

Sustainable Packaging Helps You Connect

Eco-friendly packaging won’t just help you protect the planet; you can use it to help your brand connect with eco-conscious customers. People in this demographic are more likely to be wellness-focused and opt for sushi as their takeaway of choice. As a retailer, choose naturally renewable materials like bagasse, Kraft board and recycled plastic for your sushi packaging.

Food-Grade Packaging Keeps Customers Safe

Consumers are increasingly aware of the dangers of plastic in food packaging. Our food-grade packaging is 100% safe for use with food items so your customers can dine with confidence. All our packaging is stored in our BRCGS-certified storage facilities that comply with the highest standards of food packaging storage.

Biodegradable Packaging Is the Future

Give your customers packaging they can easily dispose of responsibly and make their takeaway experience significantly more enjoyable. It’s easy to make your customers feel good about buying from you by serving your sushi in natural packaging. Materials like Kraft board and bagasse can be composted or disposed of in general waste since they’ll degrade naturally in far less time than it would take for plastic packaging to decompose. 

Check out our online shop for more sustainable packaging options.

Eco-Friendly Accessories for Sushi Restaurants

	Pots for Sauces Our portion pots include Kraft board pots with either a polyethene  (PE) or polylactic acid (PLA) coating on the inside. This creates a barrier between the contents and the exterior packaging, so it isn’t spoiled by moisture or condensation. All of the pots in this collection are ideal for things like soy sauce, wasabi or pickled ginger. Branded containers are also available in any size and are printed with vegetable-based inks.
	Bamboo Chopsticks Disposable chopsticks need to be biodegradable, which is why ours are made from responsibly sourced bamboo. Once your customers finish their meals, these chopsticks will break down naturally into organic compounds. You can even brand your chopsticks or chopstick sleeves!
	Biodegradable Napkins When your customers are finished, help them tidy up with our eco-friendly napkins. They’re available in a wide range of colours to help you keep branding consistent on a budget, but you can customise these napkins with your logo or artwork to reinforce your branding.
	Recyclable Paper Bags No takeaway is complete without a classic paper bag! Hand over your sushi in a flat handle bag or twisted handle bag available in white or Kraft brown. Alternatively, add your branding — get custom printed paper bags and let your customers carry a walking advertisement for your business.

Interested in branded food packaging? Get in touch for a free design quote.

Interested in Branded Packaging for Sushi?

Branded packaging can help you dominate the competition, no matter the size of your sushi restaurant or takeaway business. As the UK’s eco-friendly food packaging experts, we’ve helped countless businesses maximise brand exposure and get custom packaging that protects the planet. 

Discover more sushi packaging and much more in our online shop. Want branded packaging? Get in touch via email or 01753 655344 for a free branded packaging design quote in just 48 hours.