Sustainable Takeaway Food Boxes: Options for Australian Businesses

Practical ways to make takeaway food boxes more sustainable, with notes on materials, recycling labels and compostable standards.

Browse the full Takeaway Food Boxes range alongside this guide.

An overview of takeaway food boxes

Grease-resistant boxes for hot takeaway food, built for fast packing at the counter and the ride in a delivery bag. They are used by takeaway shops, food trucks, burger joints and delivery-first kitchens, and the right choice depends on what you're packing, how far it travels and how you want it to look.

The biggest practical challenge with this category is hot oil, sauces and trapped steam. Getting the board, coating and structure right for those conditions matters more than any finish or print effect.

You can browse every product in our Takeaway Food Boxes range, each made to order from 100 units.

Eco-friendly takeaway food boxes

Paperboard takeaway food boxes are one of the easier food packaging items to make sustainable, because the main material is widely recycled in Australia when it is clean.

• Choose kraft or recycled-content board where the look suits your brand.
• Use a film-free window or no window at all, so the box stays a single material.
• Ask for water-based barrier coatings rather than plastic laminates where grease resistance is needed.
• If you want compostable packaging, ask for certification to AS 4736 (industrial) or AS 5810 (home composting).
• Add clear disposal instructions, such as the Australasian Recycling Label, so customers know what to do with the box.

Most states have also phased out many single-use plastic food items, so paper-based boxes help keep you ahead of the rules. Check your state's current list, as it changes.

Kraft vs white board for takeaway food boxes

The choice between kraft and white board shapes the whole look of your takeaway food boxes.

Neither is automatically greener; both are paper-based and recyclable when free of heavy food waste. Pick the one that matches your brand and the food you're selling. Many businesses print white ink on kraft for a middle ground.

Board and material options

The right board depends on the weight of the food, how far it travels and the look you want. For takeaway food boxes the usual options are:

• Kraft paperboard: Unbleached kraft has a natural brown finish that suits rustic, organic and eco-minded brands. It prints best with bold one- or two-colour artwork, because the brown base shifts lighter colours.
• SBS paperboard: Solid bleached sulphate board gives a bright white surface for sharp, full-colour print. It is the usual choice for retail cartons and bakery boxes, and is commonly specified between 300 and 400 gsm depending on the weight of the food.
• Grease- and moisture-resistant board: Board with a food-safe barrier coating on the inside to hold back oil, sauce and condensation. Ask for water-based barrier coatings if you want the box to stay easier to recycle.

The main risk to plan for with this type of packaging is hot oil, sauces and trapped steam. Choose the board and any inside coating with that in mind, not just the print.

Are takeaway food boxes food safe?

Food businesses in Australia are expected to use packaging that is fit for purpose and unlikely to contaminate food, a requirement set out in the Food Standards Code administered by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). For takeaway food boxes, that means food-grade board, inks and coatings that suit direct or indirect contact with the food you pack.

Where the food touches the board directly, especially with hot oil, sauces and trapped steam, a barrier coating or liner is the safest choice. Printing is normally kept to the outside of the box, and any inside print should use low-migration inks.

Read our guide to food-safe packaging in Australia for a plain-English overview, and check with your local council or state food authority if you are unsure what applies to your business.

Types of takeaway food boxes

Here are the products in this range and what each one is designed to do:

• Burger Boxes: A clamshell hinge and vent holes stop buns going soggy from trapped steam.
• Hot Chip Boxes: A scoop-front design lets staff fill fast and customers eat straight from the box.
• Hot Dog Trays: Deep side walls hold toppings and sauce in place instead of on the customer's hands.
• Noodle Boxes: Leak-resistant folded corners and a lined interior handle saucy stir-fries.
• Fried Chicken Boxes: Vent holes release steam so crumbed coatings stay crunchy on the way home.
• Kebab Boxes: Sized for the snack pack, with grease-resistant lining for chips, meat and sauce.
• Sandwich Wedge Boxes: A front window lets grab-and-go customers see the filling before they buy.
• Wrap Boxes: A long, narrow format holds wraps closed so fillings stay where they belong.
• Taco Boxes: Divider inserts hold tacos upright so shells don't crack or spill.
• Takeaway Clamshell Boxes: One versatile clamshell covers most of a takeaway menu, which keeps stock simple.
• Printed Food Trays: Open trays make serving fast at events and still put your logo in every photo.
• Fish and Chips Boxes: Grease-barrier board replaces butcher paper while keeping the beach-kiosk feel.

Quick pre-order checklist

Run through this list before you ask for a quote on takeaway food boxes:

• Inside dimensions measured, in millimetres
• Box style chosen, or a sample to copy
• Board chosen: kraft, white or corrugated
• Grease or moisture barrier needed?
• Print colours and sides (outside, inside or both)
• Finishes, windows or inserts
• Quantity and how often you'll reorder
• Delivery address and the date you need them by

With these answers ready, a quote is quick and accurate.

Understanding the cost

There's no single price for custom takeaway food boxes, because every quote is built from a few variables:

• Quantity: the unit price falls quickly as runs get bigger, because setup costs are shared across more boxes.
• Size and board: bigger boxes and thicker or corrugated board use more material.
• Print: the number of colours, printing inside and out, and whether you need exact Pantone matches.
• Finishes: foil, spot UV, embossing and windows each add a step.
• Inserts and tooling: a new cutting die is a one-off cost for a new shape.
• Freight: boxes ship flat, but delivery to regional areas costs more than metro.

The easiest saving is to standardise sizes across your range and reuse the same dieline for seasonal artwork.

Frequently asked questions about takeaway food boxes

Ready to get started?

The best takeaway food boxes are the ones that fit the food, suit the way your team works and look like they belong to your brand. Measure carefully, choose board for the conditions the box will face, and keep the design clear and consistent.

When you're ready, see the full specification on our Takeaway Food Boxes page or request a free quote. We'll send a dieline and price for your exact size.