Packaging Materials
Packaging Materials
A plain guide to the materials behind our range, so you can choose the right packaging for your food, your customers and the bin it ends up in.
Five materials, five different jobs
Every material in our range does a different job. Here is what each one is, what it is good at, and how it is best disposed of once the food is gone.
Kraft Paper
CompostableA natural brown paper made from wood pulp, valued for its strength and its rustic, premium look. It handles hot and cold food well and suits cafes and bakeries that want their packaging to look as good as the food inside it.
Best For Takeaway boxes, sandwich wedges, bakery bags, lunch trays
Sugarcane (Bagasse)
CompostableMade from the fibrous pulp left over after sugarcane is processed for sugar, this material is sturdy, holds up well to hot, oily and wet food, and breaks down naturally once composted. A strong alternative to plastic for everyday takeaway.
Best For Clamshell boxes, plates, bowls, hot meal containers
PET Plastic
RecyclablePET is one of New Zealand's most recycled plastics and is prized for its clarity, which is why it is used where customers want to see the product, such as salads, cakes and cold drinks. Rinse before it goes in kerbside recycling.
Best For Salad containers, cake domes, cold cups, sushi trays
PP Plastic
RecyclablePolypropylene is thicker and more rigid than PET, though it lacks the same clarity. It is a reliable choice for hot food that needs a sturdier container and can handle higher temperatures without warping.
Best For Hot food containers, microwave safe tubs, sauce cups
Foil
RecyclableAluminium foil containers are a dependable option for hot food, ovens and reheating, since they handle high heat and help retain warmth during delivery. Clean off food residue before placing foil in recycling.
Best For Oven ready meals, catering trays, hot deliveries
Where each material belongs when it is done
A quick reference for your team or your customers on where packaging should go once the meal is finished.
Compostable
- Kraft paper containers and bags
- Sugarcane clamshells, plates and bowls
- Wooden cutlery and food picks
- Paper straws
Recyclable
- PET containers, trays and cold cups
- PP containers and lids
- Foil trays, rinsed and cleaned
- Clean paper bags
General Waste
- Heavily soiled or mixed material packaging
- Laminated or wax lined paper
- Items with food residue that cannot be rinsed
- Plastic film and cling wrap
Compostable packaging needs the right conditions to break down, either a home compost bin or a commercial composting service, and will not break down properly in a landfill or a standard recycling bin. If you are unsure what your local council collects, check with them directly before choosing which bin to use.
What the government has already banned
Since 2022, New Zealand has been phasing out certain hard to recycle and single use plastic products in stages. Here is a plain summary of what is banned today, so you can check your own packaging against it. This is a general guide, not legal advice, and the rules are set by the Ministry for the Environment.
Stage 1
Banned since 1 Oct 2022- Single use plastic drink stirrers, all plastic types
- Single use plastic cotton buds, except for medical or scientific use
- Plastics with additives that make them fragment faster, such as oxo and photo degradable plastics
- PVC trays and containers formed before filling, used for meat, fresh produce or baked goods (plastic type 3)
- Polystyrene takeaway food and drink packaging in any form, including trays, clamshells, bowls and cups (plastic type 6)
- Expanded polystyrene food and drink packaging sold at retail (plastic type 6)
Stage 2
Banned since 1 Jul 2023- Single use plastic plates, bowls and platters, all plastic types
- Single use plastic cutlery, including forks, spoons, knives and chopsticks
- Single use plastic produce bags for fresh fruit and vegetables
- Single use plastic drinking straws, sale now limited to people who need them for disability or health reasons
- Plastic produce labels that are not certified home compostable, being phased out on a longer timeline
Stage 3
Proposed, not yet in forceA wider ban on all remaining PVC and polystyrene food and drink packaging was originally proposed for mid 2025. The government has since removed that deadline, so this stage has not taken effect. Do not assume every PVC or polystyrene food container is banned. Only the specific items listed under Stage 1 and Stage 2 above are currently prohibited, and we will update this page if that changes.
Still Available and Widely Recyclable
Plastic types 1 (PET), 2 (HDPE) and 5 (PP) are not subject to these bans, unless the specific item itself falls under a Stage 2 category such as cutlery, plates or straws. These are the material types we build most of our packaging range around, since they hold up well and have real recycling pathways in New Zealand.
Not sure which material is right for your menu? Our team can help you match the packaging to the food.