Are you serving the best burgers in town? Then you need the best burger packaging too! It’s not just about having the best burger boxes, either. There are plenty of other considerations to make, like what packaging you’ll use for fries, sides, sauces and drinks.

This guide will help you find the best, most sustainable packaging for your restaurant, burger van, street food stall or dark kitchen. Let’s go!

Related: The Best Packaging for Desserts

Getting Started: Burger Box Sizes

Burgers come in all shapes and sizes, from sandwiches and sliders to double or triple-deckers. This can make packaging your patties a challenge, and that’s before you’ve factored in the other things you’ll need to give your customers an unforgettable experience, like greaseproof paper and paper bags.

No matter what your menu looks like, you need the right packaging to ensure your customers enjoy their burgers while they’re hot and fresh, not cold or — even worse — soggy. 

Here’s a guide to burger boxes and the materials and sizes for different food products:

Size	Best For	We Recommend
4×4″ (10x10cm)	Small Burgers (e.g. Sliders, Bao Buns)	4×4” Burger Box (Kraft)
5×5″ (12x12cm)	Premium Burgers (e.g. Hamburgers, Double Cheeseburgers, Triple Cheeseburgers)	5×5” Premium Burger Box (Kraft)
9.5×4.5″ (244x122cm)	Large Premium Burgers and Meals (e.g. Salads, Meals, Hot Dogs, Kebabs, Burritos)	9.5×4.5” Premium Meal Box (Kraft)
6×6″ (15x15cm)	Regular Burgers (e.g. Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, Quarter Pounders)	6×6″ Clamshell Burger Box (Bagasse)
9×6″ (23x15cm)	Large Burgers and Meals (e.g. Salads, Meals, Hot Dogs, Kebabs, Burritos)	9×6″ Clamshell Meal Box (Bagasse)
8×8 ″(20x20cm)	Extra Large Burgers (e.g. Oversized Burgers, Loaded Burgers)	8×8” Clamshell Burger Box (Bagasse)
9×6″ (23x15cm) with Compartments	Regular Burgers with a Side (e.g. Burgers with Fries or Sides)	9×6″ Clamshell Meal Box (Bagasse)

Each of these burger boxes has unique benefits thanks to implementing various eco-friendly materials and design configurations.

Check out our entire range of sustainable hot food packaging.

Different Materials for Burger Boxes

Once you know which burger boxes you need for your items, you must consider the materials and design that best suit your brand and budget.

Below, we’ve outlined the most popular styles of burger boxes, including our most cost-effective packaging and our premium packaging:

	Bagasse Burger Boxes These boxes are made using bagasse, a naturally renewable material from sugarcane pulp. Simple, effective and affordable, this kind of packaging is popular with eco-conscious businesses looking to replace polystyrene burger boxes, and is 100% biodegradable and compostable.
	Kraft Burger Boxes Made from fluted Kraft board, this packaging is resistant to oil, grease and moisture. These heavy-duty boxes have a rustic aesthetic that complements their contents while protecting food from the elements, thanks to the lock-in tabs on the lid. These boxes are 100% recyclable, biodegradable and compostable.
	Cardboard Burger Boxes This premium burger box design features a collapsible design for ease of storage. The vents in the lid allow hot air to escape, so your burgers don’t go soggy, but the fluted cardboard design insulates your food products, keeping them hot and fresh for longer. These boxes are 100% recyclable, biodegradable and compostable.

You can customise these burger boxes! Get in touch for a free design quote.

Can You Recycle Burger Boxes?

Most burger boxes are recyclable, but only if they’re unspoilt. Boxes stained with grease or oil won’t be accepted by local authorities for recycling. If the material has been contaminated, you should dispose of this kind of packaging in general waste.

This creates a pretty clear problem — the best burgers are dripping with cheese and saturated with sauce, making it almost impossible to preserve the packaging. That’s why it’s a good idea to use greaseproof paper to wrap your burgers or line burger boxes. This will help maximise recyclability and keep your planet-positive packaging intact.

If you opt for bagasse burger boxes, it’s important to note that they aren’t recyclable. This packaging material degrades naturally in as little as 90 days under the right conditions. As such, the material cannot be recycled or repurposed. 

Instead, bagasse packaging can be composted domestically or commercially, even when spoilt. If all else fails, they can be thrown in general waste without leaving your customers feeling guilty. This packaging will degrade naturally into totally organic, non-toxic elements.

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

The Benefits of Using Cardboard Burger Boxes

While the number of retail outlets is falling, there are significantly more fast-food restaurants on the high street. With more rivals to contend with, it’s harder to make your brand stand out. One of the ways to differentiate yourself from the competition on a budget is through sustainable packaging.

There are numerous advantages to using cardboard food packaging for burgers and other hot food products:

• Cardboard Is a Sustainable Material

Cardboard is made from paper, and since the paper is derived from trees, it’s naturally renewable since trees can be replanted. Our packaging — including our Kraft burger boxes — is crafted using materials from responsibly managed forests. Opting for cardboard packaging is much greener than using plastic packaging like polystyrene clamshell boxes, like those banned by Scotland in 2022.

• Durability and Functionality

Our food-grade cardboard is 100% safe for use with all kinds of food items. The fluted cardboard and Kraft board we use can easily withstand the weight of even the heftiest burgers without tearing or collapsing. Thanks to some neat design additions like lock-in tabs and foldable lids, our burger packaging is excellent for speedy over-the-counter service.

• Convenience and Practicality

Portability is essential for takeaway packaging. Your burgers need to be easy to transport, either via over-the-counter service or delivery. This makes cardboard an obvious choice for all burger boxes, pizza boxes and takeaway food carriers. Cardboard might be lightweight, but it will effectively insulate its contents, keeping food hot and fresh until it’s ready to eat.

• Cardboard Is Easy to Dispose Of

Cardboard is easily recyclable at home, but if spoiled, it’s also easy to dispose of responsibly. Cardboard can be composted at home or an industrial facility and decompose naturally, hundreds of years faster than any plastic packaging.

Moreover, cardboard is easy to print, giving you a range of branded packaging options for a whole host of packaging products and accessories. If you’re not ready for printed packaging, the natural finish of our stock packaging is an excellent choice for eco-conscious brands.

Check out our online shop for more eco-friendly packaging.

Case Study: Smash ‘n’ Slide Burgers

We helped Smash ‘n’ Slide create packaging that packs a punch! The custom printed greaseproof paper we produced features a vibrant repeating pattern on a deep black background, complementing their indulgent burgers with bold branding.

Greaseproof paper is highly versatile and can be used for various applications. This is handy if you’re selling more than just burgers — you can use it to line Kraft food trays for things like loaded nachos and fries. 

The best part is that our greaseproof paper is eco-friendly. It’s not like traditional papers that have a silicone coating. Instead, our product is created using 100% virgin pulp and is manufactured with a specialised oil protection system of tightly compacted fibres. This makes it impervious to oil, grease, fat and moisture without needing a silica-based coating — a win-win for your customers and the environment.

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

Eco-Friendly Accessories for Burger Restaurants

Now that more single-use plastics are set to be banned in the UK, including plastic plates, cups and cutlery, businesses in the food service sector need to find alternatives for all sorts of everyday products, and fast.

Here are a few eco-friendly essentials that can help you get ahead of the game before more single-use plastic items are banned:

	Kraft Paper Trays The classic burger, side and beverage combo wouldn’t be complete without a hearty portion of chips or fries, but how do you sustainably serve this kind of food? We stock a range of Kraft paper trays made from sturdy Kraft board that’s both recyclable and biodegradable. They’re available in various styles and sizes to suit all kinds of extras you might sell alongside your core offering.
	Kraft Chip Cups Looking for something easy for customers to grab and go? Our chip cups are practical, stylish and sustainable.  They’re lined with PLA (polylactic acid), a plant-based alternative to PE (polyethylene) linings. Not only does this lining provide an effective barrier against oil, grease and moisture, but it also allows customers to dispose of their packaging responsibly.
	Biodegradable Cutlery Burgers are best enjoyed as a hands-on experience, and most sides make perfect finger food. That said, your customers might need cutlery to enjoy some of your menu items. Our biodegradable cutlery is available in different materials and includes forks, knives and spoons. All of which can be purchased separately or as cutlery sets.
	Biodegradable Cups Our biodegradable cups for cold beverages give your customers the ultimate eco-friendly experience.  With a selection of matching cup lids, you can prevent leaks or spills when your customers are transporting their drinks. You can make their experience even better with our two-cup carriers or four-cup carriers, which are 100% recyclable and compostable.
	Eco-Friendly Straws  When your customers want a refreshing beverage to accompany their food, ensure you hand them their drink with one of our wrapped paper straws.  Our biodegradable straws are the perfect alternative if you’re looking for something more similar to plastic straws. Made from PLA, they’re more sturdy than paper and are well-suited to carbonated beverages and smoothies.
	Biodegradable Napkins Help your customers keep things clean and tidy (even with the dirtiest burgers) with our eco-friendly napkins.  They’re available in a full spectrum of colours, so you can keep branding consistent without purchasing a fully custom design. However, putting your logo on your napkins is a great way to reinforce your branding.

Branded Burger Boxes, Bags and More

Want to give your burger packaging a boost? Branded food boxes and custom printed greaseproof paper give you a cost-effective way to promote your business locally and via social media. Our custom printed paper bags are also an excellent choice if you want to maximise brand exposure in your local area.

At Takeaway Packaging, we create fully customised packaging that protects the planet. We use water and vegetable-based inks to print vibrant designs and organic, eco-friendly materials that won’t compromise your brand’s environmental values.

Check out our hot food packaging for burgers, hot dogs, pizzas and much more. Interested in branded packaging? Get in touch via email or 01753 655344 for a free design quote today.