Eco-Friendly Food Packaging for Sushi: The Sustainable Alternatives You Should Be Using
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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.

Eco-Friendly Food Packaging for Sushi 1

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

Eco-Friendly Food Packaging for Sushi 2

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.

Bagasse Containers – An alternative to Kraft Tableware!
Bagasse container full of food on a wooden table

This is an innovative range made from bagasse (sugarcane pulp), a material that is widely available and a renewable resource. All pulp based products are both biodegradable, compostable and produced in a manner that drastically reduces your carbon footprint. All lids that fit on these containers are fully recyclable as well.

Bagasse Rectangular Container

What will I find on this new page?

We have a range of products on this new page. From bowls to boxes and even trays! All lids described on this page must be ordered separately. The containers are all made from sugarcane pulp (read more below) and the lids are made from PET (Plastic).

What is Sugarcane Pulp?

Sugarcane, also known as bagasse, is a renewable, fast growing resource that is grown for several purposes, like cane juice. Once the juice is extracted, the sugarcane stalk is usually incinerated or discarded. However, these crushed stalks can be saved and made into other items rather than being discarded.

What is PET Plastic?

Polyethylene terephthalate, commonly abbreviated as PET, is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family. It is most often used in synthetic fibers, as a material for plastic bottles and food containers, in thermoforming applications, and in engineering resins often used in combination with glass fiber.

How long does delivery take?

Anything you order from the Takeaway Packaging site before 2pm will be with you the very next day. You can also receive free delivery when you spend over £100.

Who do I contact if I have questions about any products?

We have a new live chat facility on our website where someone is there to answer any questions you have Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00. Alternatively, you can call us on 01753 655344 or send us an email to [email protected].

How do I place and order?

It is totally up to you, we can take orders over the phone, via email, or you can order straight from the website. Whatever is easier for you.

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8 Very British Desserts

Takeaway Packaging are celebrating our first World Cup win with some very British desserts. These puddings are sure to remind you of your school days, let us know your favourites!

  1. Victoria Sponge

    The Victoria Sponge is two layers of cake sandwiched together with a jam and cream filling and finished with a dusting of sugar. This dessert became a popular treat during the reign of Queen Victoria.

  2. Sticky Toffee Pudding

    Robert Lee & Francis Coulson developed sticky toffee pudding at Coulson’s Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel in the Lake District, 1970s. Sticky toffee pudding consists of a steamed sponge, dates, toffee sauce and often custard.
    Check out this step by step guide by Nigella

  3. Crumble

    crumble british dessert
    Crumbles rose to popularity in Britain during World War II. At this time, the crumble topping was created using an economical alternative to pies due to shortages of pastry ingredients as the result of rationing. To further reduce the use of rationed flour, fat and sugar, breadcrumbs or oatmeal could be added to the crumble mix.

  4. Eton Mess

    Eton mess is a traditional English dessert consisting of strawberries, meringue, and whipped cream. It is believed Eton Mess originated from Eton College. The dessert is served at their annual cricket match against the pupils of Harrow School.

  5. Trifle

    The word “trifle” comes from French term ‘trufle’, this means something along the lines of ‘whimsical’ or ‘of little consequence’. A proper English trifle is made with real egg custard poured over sponge cake soaked in fruit and sherry and topped with whipped cream.

  6. Bakewell Tart

    The Bakewell Tart is a delicious treat consisting of shortcrust pastry, layered jam, frangipane and sometimes a topping of flaked almonds. It is a variant of the Bakewell pudding and is often associated with Derbyshire.

  7. Banoffee Pie

    Banoffee pie is a dessert pie primarily made from bananas, toffee and cream. Banoffee pies often have a buttery biscuit base, some versions of the recipe also include chocolate and coffee.

  8. Knickerbocker Glory

    A knickerbocker glory is a layered ice cream sundae that is served in a tall, large glass to be eaten with a long spoon. The knickerbocker glory was first noted in the early 1920s. It contains ice cream, whipped cream, fruit, meringue, syrups and sometimes nuts.Like this blog? Read about our new eco friendly ice cream tubs here.Keep up to date by following us on social media
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