Plastic-free Burger Boxes: Explore Sustainable Grease-resistant Coatings

Burger, this word conjures the image of a juicy patty layered with veggies and cheese. And nestled in a soft bun with yummy toppings. A burger is a culinary star of the fast-food category. It is popular for its quick making and is a source of satisfying hunger. Served in many restaurants and cafes, it is a go to grab and home delivered meal.

A burger box has made the process of serving and delivering convenient. This simple container often goes unnoticed, is durable and rigid. It ensures that a burger remains warm, ingredients stay intact and there is no contamination. In short, a burger box is not just a mere box of packaging. It is an appetizing experience preserved inside.

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The Pressing Need for Sustainable Burger Boxes

For many years, burger boxes have played an essential role in ensuring portability and a degree of tidiness. However, the second half of the 20th century marks an era of escalating environmental concerns. These custom food boxes which were made from non-renewable resources became a cause of worry. Traditional burger boxes were crafted from virgin paperboard. And then treated with plastic or polystyrene coatings.

These boxes took hundreds of years for decomposition and contributed to plastic pollution. Thus, they were declared as a non-sustainable solution for burger packaging. Here cardboard/paperboard burger boxes rise to the situation as lifesavers. These boxes instantly made a place in the culinary world. Not only are they biodegradable. Also they minimize landfill waste, reduce energy consumption and conserve natural resources. The urge for more eco-friendly options introduced many sustainable materials for burger box manufacturing. Such as:

Sugarcane bagasse
Wheat Straw
Bamboo fiber
Molded Pulp
Kraft Paper
Plant-based Bioplastics (PLA- Polylactic Acid)
No-Tree paper (Kenaf, Hemp)

Adopting biodegradable materials showed promising results in managing pollution. However, moving away from traditional plastic coatings presents a complex challenge. The primary purpose of a coating is grease-resistance. Many manufacturers still struggle to fight grease problems. This article is a solution on innovative coatings for burger boxes. Let’s explore them in detail.

Innovative Sustainable Coatings for Custom Burger Packaging

Grease and moisture are foes of burger boxes. Not only do they degrade the taste of a burger, also they create hindrance in the decomposition process. Plastic coatings like polyethylene are cheap and effective with great resistance to grease. But they are imposing serious threats to our environment and sometimes cause food contamination. Here is a list of eco-friendly coatings that businesses can opt for.

Water-based and Bio-based Coatings

Starch-based Coatings: Starch is a renewable source obtained from corn, potatoes and tapioca. It is processed into films and applied as a layer on burger boxes. It is highly grease-resistant and is edible. It has a great potential for modification. For example, starch coatings can be engineered to enhance grease and moisture resistance.

Cellulose-based Coatings: Cellulose is a sustainable option for using it as a coating. It is derived from wood pulp, cotton and agricultural waste. Cellulose coatings are non-toxic and are safe for food packaging. However, the purest form of cellulose is hydrophilic. To reduce its moisture absorption effect, it is treated with different materials. Some affordable options for cellulose-based coatings are cellophane, methylcellulose and nanocellulose.

Chitosan-based Coatings: Chitosan, a seafood waste biopolymer, is a trending innovation. Just like all coatings, it is processed into thin films and applied on paperboard burger boxes. A unique feature of chitosan coating is, it inhibits the growth of microbes. Thus, it prevents burger spoilage and maintains quality. These coatings have a good potential for gas barrier properties against oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Seaweed-based Coatings: Seaweed coatings are biopolymers obtained from different seaweeds. For example, alginate a polysaccharide of brown seaweed and good for grease resistance. Similarly other polymers are agar, carrageenan and elvan. These coatings are grease, water and oxygen resistant. And offer the fresh quality of burgers.

Mineral-based Coatings: Although the water and bio-based coatings are enough to ensure sustainability of burger boxes. The emergence of mineral coatings is a new innovation in the packaging world. Minerals are not used in their purest form for making coating films. Instead, they are used as additives for enhancing specific properties. For instance, calcium carbonate is used as a filler in different coatings. It reduces the number of biopolymers required. These coatings are ideal for custom burger boxes due to their heat resistance properties.

Plant-based Waxes: Plant-based wax coatings have an edge because of the natural hydrophobic properties. These waxes are obtained from vegetable oils, plant leaves & stem, grains and fruits. Like other coatings, these waxes offer great grease and moisture resistance. Thus, maintain the integrity of burger boxes. Carnauba wax, candelilla wax, soy wax, rice bran and palm wax are safe and food grade coatings. However, it is important to ensure its melting point is suitable for burger boxes. As excess heat can result in melting of a coating and food spoilage.

These are some innovative and sustainable choices of coatings for burger boxes. Since they are a derivation from natural resources. Therefore, all these coatings are cost-effective and user-friendly for burger boxes. Apart from coatings, there are some other options too for treating burger boxes.

Greaseproof Paper
Stone Paper
Dual-layer Coatings (Combining two types of coating)
Compostable Bioplastics (PLA & PHA)

Conclusion

While designing a burger box there are some necessary considerations. Its shape, style, strength, and size. But what matters the most is the functionality of burger boxes. What is the use of a box which absorbs oil and grease and spoils burger taste? To treat grease problems burger boxes are layered with coatings. Initially plastic coatings provide excellent resistance against oil and grease.

However, later the rise in plastic pollution condemns its use. Water, bio, plant, seaweed and mineral-based coatings are sustainable solutions. They are affordable, protect the boxes from grease and provide premium finishing. If you are looking for a burger box supplier. Then Boxit Packages is at your rescue. Your burgers are valuable for us. We craft cardboard and paperboard burger boxes. With an innovative touch of sustainable inks and coating. Our company is FSC certified and works on green practices.

also read: Top 5 Trends in Custom Wedding Bands for Modern Couples