Let’s face it, no one ever thinks about take-out boxes until they are in their car with the sauce dripping down the bottom of a flimsy container, asking themselves how restaurants could be so stupid as to use packaging that can’t even take care of a simple pasta order! It’s like noticing it when it doesn’t work. Beneath the radar, however, in the U.S. food packaging industry, something truly innovative is going on. Paper takeaway boxes are replacing them, and it’s long past time.
It’s not just the California startups that are driving the trend, it’s the eco-conscious ones. It’s the industry revolution that’s underway, from fast-casuals to your local Chinese restaurant to premium meal delivery services. Americas packaging system is evolving and paper is taking a prominent role.
For years the standard approach was the use of Styrofoam and plastic containers. They were inexpensive, they were easy to store, no one really asked any questions. There was a sequence of events that occurred at the same time. Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and dozens of other cities across the U.S. have instituted bans on Styrofoam containers. New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, among others, have now banned Styrofoam containers. Consumers began to think about their garbage more. And restaurants found that their packaging became a part of their brand image, whether they like it or not.
500 years in a landfill isn’t a pretty sight when you’re trying to create a loyal customer base that cares about more than the food. For restaurants, this was an opportunity to “get rid” of paper takeaway boxes, but without the weight of all this.
In addition to the environmental aspect, Kraft packaging adds a handmade, artisan quality that aligns with the increasing demand for locally produced and small-scale goods. The trend has been noticed by bigger retailers, who have added Kraft elements to their seasonal and promotional packaging, to capitalize on that sense of authenticity.
Here are the things that are not enough discussed about packaging as a promotional tool. Not only just a container. Beautiful packaging for a Kraft bag takes one of two forms when a customer walks out of a store with a beautifully wrapped Kraft bag, or when a delivery arrives in a well branded Kraft box, the packaging continues to do a lot of promotional work after the sale.
Think about it. A simple logo stamped on a Kraft gift bag makes its way through a mall. A kitchen counter will be visible for days if a Kraft box is left there. A person who’s been given a gift in Kraft-wrapped paper uploads it to their socials because it looks great in the photo. All those moments are brand impressions for the retailer at no additional cost beyond the initial packaging cost.
That is why Kraft gift boxes are a part of the retail promotion strategy, especially during major holiday occasions such as the holidays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and back to school. Retailers make limited promotional runs with Kraft packaging which may include a ribbon, a seasonal stamp or a tissue paper insert to increase the value without altering the material. The effect is a curated and planned composition that’s what helps sell products and build repeat business.
This is what many people aren’t aware of. Paper box reminds them of something that becomes damp in 10 minutes and crumbles when you put your greasy fingers in it. It was once a valid charge. Well, it’s not anymore.
Contemporary paper takeaway boxes are designed to withstand heat, moisture, and the overall messiness of food delivery. The resources are much improved. Today’s paper boxes are actually made for the task – with grease-resistant coating, reinforced corners and interlocking lids. Many restaurants that converted were amazed at the performance of their new products when compared to their previous ones.
And then there’s the look. Once restaurants started using white takeaway boxes, their appearance changed for the better. A simple, uncluttered and neat paper box looks better on a plate or for a food delivery app than a box that looks like it’s just come out of the hospital cafeteria in 1987.
To explain the rise of paper takeaway boxes, one has to take into account the explosion of delivery services in the past few years. Millions of Americans now devour their meals out of home more often than not thanks to services such as Door Dash, Uber Eats and Grub Hub. As a result of this change, there was a new challenge in packaging that was not originally intended for transport.
If food stays in a poor container for 25 minutes it is quite different than walking from a kitchen to a table. The packaging is expected to do more. It’s got to stay hot, it’s got to fend off spills and it’s got to arrive looking like the restaurant actually cares. Paper boxes, particularly the more robust modern boxes, will stand up to delivery conditions far more effectively than they are credited for.
They also fit neatly in delivery bags, a little bit of a minor detail but when drivers are running multiple orders and time is precious.
Big chains are able to afford to experiment with packaging and implement changes gradually. That’s not the case with small, independent restaurants, though – it’s those whose sales are making the most of the paper takeaway revolution. The price gap between the highest quality paper boxes and plastic and foam boxes has already decreased significantly in response to increased demand and a larger supply base.
More significantly, independent restaurants are using packaging as a means of directly conveying their values to their consumers. What a well-designed paper box with a simple logo stamp or sticker seal will tell your customers is something about you. These are little things that will make a big impact in the long run.
Contemporary paper takeaway boxes are designed to withstand heat, moisture, and the overall messiness of food delivery. The resources are much improved. Today’s paper boxes are actually made for the task – with grease-resistant coating, reinforced corners and interlocking lids. Many restaurants that converted were amazed at the performance of their new products when compared to their previous ones.
Other states are considering packaging laws. Increasingly, consumers are choosing products that are sustainable. More restaurants are realizing that packages are a part of the meal experience and not an afterthought. Paper take away boxes are in the middle of all that.
The U.S. food packaging industry is truly transforming, and paper is not the fallback choice. It’s the obvious first choice these days.
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