When you begin researching packaging for your restaurant, you quickly realize there are countless options—different materials, shapes, and designs.

Depending on your needs, the choice can feel overwhelming. To help make things clearer, you can first take a look at this article, “How to Select the Best Food Packaging for My Restaurant.”

Before considering the specific technical or visual features of your packaging, the first step is to choose the right material. As you may have noticed, most food packaging is made from plastic, paper, aluminium, or corn starch.

In this article, we’ll focus specifically on plastic containers and paper lunch boxes.

At first glance, many people assume that paper packaging is more expensive than plastic packaging. It’s a common misconception that “eco-friendly” automatically means “more costly.”

However, that’s not always the case. The actual cost depends on the type of packaging being compared. In this article, we’ll look at two types of plastic packaging alongside a standard paper lunch box.

This comparison will help us analyze not only their prices but also their strengths and weaknesses. The two plastic options we’ll examine are the microwave-safe plastic container and the TAGE plastic container.

The microwave plastic container is a rigid type of plastic packaging. In form, it is similar to Tupperware. As its name suggests, it can be placed in the microwave. It is made up of two parts: the main container and the lid. 

This type of packaging is completely leakproof and food-grade. Its price is generally around RM0.40 per piece.

The TAGE plastic container is made of thinner plastic compared to the previous one. It comes as a single block with two symmetrical parts, meaning the section that holds the food also serves as the lid. 

Like other food packaging, it is completely leakproof and food-grade. Its price is generally around RM0.15 per piece.

Finally, let’s talk about paper lunch box containers. As the name suggests, this type of packaging is made of paper—but not just any paper. It is PE-coated, which makes it completely leakproof and greaseproof.

These lunch boxes are also fully food-grade, with a price of about RM0.26 per piece.

Now that we’ve looked at these three types of packaging, what really sets them apart? You might say the price, but cost is also an important factor that cannot be ignored when making a purchasing decision.

But should price be the only consideration? Product quality is equally important. You might be tempted to choose the cheapest option, but does the TAGE plastic container truly reflect your brand? Does its quality align with the quality of your food?

Each type of packaging has its own strengths and weaknesses. To know which suits you best, you need to ask yourself what brand values you want your packaging to communicate.

For example, plastic packaging cannot be printed on. If you want your brand to stand out, this limitation makes it less suitable. By contrast, paper lunch boxes allow full customization with your logo, colors, and designs.

This is one of the biggest advantages of paper packaging over basic plastic containers. While they may be slightly more expensive than TAGE packaging, you can still get customized paper lunch boxes for only RM0.40 per piece—the same price as a transparent microwave-safe plastic container. 

For the same cost, you can choose between plain, transparent packaging or custom paper packaging that not only communicates your ecological values but also acts as cost-effective advertising for your restaurant.

At Foodabox, we specialize in creating high-quality, eco-friendly, and fully customizable paper lunch boxes that help your brand shine while keeping costs manageable. Contact us today to find the perfect packaging solution for your business.

Ready to elevate your food brand with packaging that makes an impact? Let’s build a solution that’s sustainable, smart, and tailored to your needs.

Copyright © Foodbox. All Rights Reserved