As a hospitality entrepreneur who works with takeaway, you know how important packaging is. Not only is it practical, but it affects the customer experience and how your brand comes across. Cardboard trays and sugar cane trays are two popular choices, but which one is best for your business? We list the benefits of both options.

Benefits of cardboard trays

Cardboard trays are often used in the take-away sector because of their practical properties. Here are the main advantages:

Versatility of cardboard trays

Cardboard trays can be used for all kinds of dishes, from French fries to different types of snacks. They can serve both hot and cold dishes, which makes them suitable for different types of meals you sell through take-away.

Branding through cardboard snack trays with logo

Cardboard trays are easy to personalize with a logo or design. This makes them ideal for businesses looking to reinforce their brand. The packaging becomes an extension of your brand and ensures that customers recognize your restaurant or food truck, even when they take their meal with them or have it delivered.

Sustainable and biodegradable cardboard trays

Cardboard trays are often 100% biodegradable, making them a good choice for businesses that value sustainability. They can be easily recycled, reducing their impact on the environment. This is an important benefit for customers who value eco-friendly products.

Benefits of sugar cane trays

Sugar cane trays are rapidly gaining popularity, mainly because of their durability and sturdiness. Here are the main advantages:

Sustainable and eco-friendly sugarcane trays

One of the biggest advantages of sugarcane trays is that they are biodegradable and compostable. This makes them a good choice for businesses that value sustainability. Sugar cane trays help you maintain a green image and can attract customers who value eco-friendly packaging.

Sugar cane snack trays made of strong material

Sugar cane trays are sturdier than cardboard trays and can better withstand grease and high temperatures. This makes them suitable for dishes that are hotter or fattier. They remain sturdy even when filled with hot or moist dishes.

Sugarcane trays with identical sizing as plastic trays

A great advantage of (our) sugarcane trays is that they have the same sizing as traditional plastic trays. If your business is used to plastic trays, you can easily switch to sugar cane trays without having to change your systems. This makes the transition to more sustainable packaging much easier.

Natural look

Sugar cane trays have a more natural look, making them ideal for companies that want to project an eco-friendly image. They offer a natural look and feel and help position your brand as a sustainable choice

Which fits your business best?

The choice between cardboard and sugarcane trays depends on several factors:

Cost

Cardboard trays tend to be more expensive than sugarcane trays, and sugarcane trays are good value for money, especially when you consider the durability and sturdiness they offer. For companies that value sustainability while controlling costs, sugarcane trays are a smart choice.

Brand identity

Cardboard trays are ideal for printing with your own logo or corporate identity. This makes them an excellent choice for companies looking to reinforce their brand and add a personal touch to their packaging. By personalizing your cardboard trays, you can enhance the customer experience and make your brand more visible, especially to customers who take their orders with them or have them delivered.

Type of dishes

If you have dishes that contain a lot of fat or moisture, or that need to stay hot, sugarcane trays are a good choice because of their sturdiness and resistance. Cardboard trays are also suitable for many dishes, but if you are serving something heavier or fatter, sugarcane trays may be the better option.

Switching from plastic to sustainable snack trays

A major advantage of sugar cane trays is their identical size compared to plastic trays. If your business is used to using plastic, switching to sugarcane trays makes the transition easy without having to adjust logistical processes or machinery.


Both options, cardboard and sugarcane trays, have their own advantages. Cardboard trays are versatile, easy to personalize for branding and also good for the environment. Sugar cane trays are sturdier, more resistant to grease and high temperatures, and have a natural look that fits well with a sustainable image. The choice between the two depends mainly on the type of dishes you serve, how you want to position your brand and what value you place on sustainability.

At TakeAware, we are happy to help you make the right choice for your catering establishment, whether you are looking for a practical solution or more sustainable packaging. Contact us for more information about the different options!