Eco-Friendly Food Packaging for Sushi: The Sustainable Alternatives You Should Be Using
branded-sushi-packaging

Eco-Friendly Food Packaging for Sushi

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.

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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

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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.

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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.

3 Festive Soup Recipes to Keep Your Customers Warm
Soup for bespoke pots

Even though Winter doesn’t officially begin until late in December, it’s started to turn very cold and we’ve definitely been feeling the effects here at Takeaway Packaging HQ.

We’ve been thinking about the best way to keep warm while we prepare for a busy festive season.

One suggestion was that we could line ourselves in super-insulating Double Wall Paperboard. After all, it’s the same material we use for some of our bespoke, branded coffee cups and that certainly stays hot.

It wasn’t until lunchtime two days ago, when the hunger pangs kicked in, that the perfect solution to keeping warm became obvious to us…Soup.

We love eating soup. We love making soup. We love designing pots for soup.

Are your customers short on time but don’t want to miss a cosy café soup lunch?

Look no further.

Our custom soup pots solve the cosy-soup/working-lunch dilemma. There’s simply no need for your customers to eat in and fall behind on work when they can take your soup with them.

Bespoke designs mean you can maintain your branding presence, and snug, branded lids mean that your delicious soup travels safely and secure, from kettle to desk.

We’ve selected 3 of our favourite recipes for soup inspired by the festive season to tempt you and your customers.

Winter soup

Creamy Cauliflower and Bacon Soup

This soup is simple, creamy, smokey and comforting. Bacon and cauliflower pair so well together and this is sure to be a winner.

Check out this awesome recipe in full here

(Makes 4 servings, scale as necessary)

You will need:
8 rashers of bacon, cut into pieces
1 medium onion, finely chopped
6 spring onions, white and pale green parts only, thinly sliced
4 medium cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
1 litre of chicken stock
2 bay leaves
350ml of heavy cream
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1.. Heat bacon in a large heavy-based pan, stirring constantly until bacon is completely crisp. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the fat in the pan.

2. Add onions, half the spring onions and garlic. Cook and stir constantly, scraping browned bits from bottom of the pan until the onions have softened.

3. Add chicken stock, bay leaves, cream and cauliflower then season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until cauliflower is tender.

4. Using a stick blender (or equivalent), blend soup until completely smooth (may need to be done in batches).

5. Strain if extra-smooth is desired. Stir in a little more hot chicken stock if too thick.

6. Season with salt and pepper and serve with sprinkled crispy bacon pieces and the remaining spring onions.

‘Mmmm bacon’

Spiced Butternut Squash Soup

This soup is perfect for curing wintery chills. It’s spicy, a bit different and contains a glug of Santa’s favourite drink.

Check out LuvMyFamily recipe for more details

(Makes 8 servings, scale as necessary)

You will need:
1.5kg of butternut squash, peeled and seeded
50g butter
1 medium onion
1 leek, sliced
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 litre of chicken stock
2 large potatoes
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp ground allspice
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground ginger
Salt and freshly ground pepper
125ml sherry
125ml double cream
125ml milk
125ml soured cream (optional garnish)

1.. Preheat oven to 190 C. Pour small layer of water into a baking dish. Place the squash halves cut-side-down on the dish.

2. Bake for around 40 mins or until a fork can easily pierce the flesh. Allow to cool slightly, then remove the peel and set aside.

3. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, leek and garlic and sauté for a few minutes until tender.

4. Pour the chicken stock into the pot. Add the potatoes and bring to the boil. Cook for about 20 mins or until soft.
Add the squash and mash with the potatoes until the chunks are small. Use a stick blender to purée the soup until smooth (a food processor used in batches would also work).

5. Season the soup with the cayenne pepper, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, salt and pepper. Stir in the sherry, cream and milk. Heat through, but do not boil.

6. After serving, top with a dollop of soured cream, and smile.

Mulligatawny Soup

Our final choice is a bold one. Similarly to number 2, it’s full of warming spices and wintery veg. This heritage-rich dish harks back to the British Raj and is steeped in history as much as it is peppery, curried-beef stock.
This is a soup for park benches in the winter and watching the world go by.

Credit to Waitrose for their fantastic recipe.

(Makes 4 servings, scale as necessary)

You will need:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
250g minced beef
2 carrots, cut into 1cm cubes
300g butternut squash, cut into 1cm cubes
1 large red chilli, finely chopped
5cm piece ginger, finely chopped
1 tbsp Marsala curry paste
400g chopped tomatoes
1 litre beef stock
1 tbsp mango chutney
100g basmati rice
Handful fresh coriander, chopped

1.. Heat the olive oil in a large pan, and cook the onion for 4-5 minutes until beginning to soften. Add the minced beef, and cook with the onion until it is browned all over, breaking up with a wooden spoon as you go.

2. Stir in the carrots and butternut squash, and toss together with the mince and onions cooking for just a few minutes, then stir in the chilli and ginger, and cook for a further minute.

3. Add the curry paste and chopped tomatoes, and mix, then add the stock and mango chutney. Simmer for 25 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

4. Meanwhile, place the rice in a small saucepan and cover with cold water about 3cm above the level rice. Bring to the boil and simmer until all the water has been absorbed by the rice.

5. Remove from the heat, cover and leave to sit while the soup is cooking.

6. Stir the rice into the soup along with the chopped coriander. Then serve with a dollop of greek yoghurt.

There you have it, 3 soups we are sure will help you and your customers to survive the cold and start feeling festive.

Not as obsessed with soup as we are? Try filling our pots with a hearty winter stew or start the day right with porridge sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

Talk to us about designing your own soup cups, we can brand the lids too.