You might not immediately liken innovation and foodservice packaging, but exhibitors at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2025 are looking to make that connection more pronounced.

Plates, bowls, containers, cutlery, cups, bags, napkins – all fall under the umbrella term of foodservice packaging.

This diverse and challenging range of packaging applications means there are hundreds of suppliers vying for their slice of the pie. It’s a substantial pie too, with global sales of foodservice packaging products estimated at $67.9 billion in 2024 according to a recent Fact.MR report. The same report anticipates a CAGR of 6% over the next decade, seeing the market’s value top $121 million in 2034.

Strong growth prospects are met by the same challenges that the rest of the industry faces, notably the move to circular and sustainable choices. The move to remove single-use plastic and plastic straws are publicly perceived examples within the foodservice packaging arena – alternatives to plastic straws are now widely available, adopted and lamented and are being made with anything from paper and glass to seashells and agri-waste.

No wonder then that at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2025, a large number of companies will be exhibiting their latest wares to suit the evolving needs of the foodservice packaging market, when the show opens its doors on 12 & 13 September 2025 at the NEC in Birmingham.

Spanish company Salaet Food Packaging (F24) is part of a European initiative to create food packaging from agri-waste. Foodwaste for Foodpack includes a number of names from the supply chain collaborating to enhance the use of food waste to create food packaging. The general objective of the pilot project is to materially value the waste from the fruit and vegetable processing industry as a resource to obtain packaging materials and to realise the utilisation of waste generated by fruit and vegetable processing companies. The long-term goal is to offer an alternative to virgin raw materials such as plastic and cellulose.

Similarly, Copar Smart Packaging (C52) is an Australian-based business that creates products using agri-waste – specifically wheat straw. Wheat straw packaging is a renewable and compostable alternative to traditional packaging. Wheat straw is an agricultural byproduct that is often discarded or burned, with Copar repurposing this material as a circular and PFAS-free packaging option. Its products are also OPRL and Papercycle certified recyclable along with paper/card waste.

dinearth (G60) is India’s largest manufacturer of bagasse tableware and paper straws, producing more than 50 sustainable products such as plates, trays, clamshells, containers and compartment plates. dinearth aims to be the leading company in manufacturing natural plant fibre and other sustainable packaging products. To achieve this aim, its products are made from 100% renewable natural plant fibre and use a coating that is fully plastic-free. They are also free from heavy metals and other chemicals, while being microwave and freezer friendly and remaining resistant to water and oil.

Italy’s Tecnofoodpack (J72) has introduced a cardboard tray that uses a skin film that can be separated and improve their sustainability credentials. New machinery has been installed to allow this development to be realised, complementing the company’s established injection moulding and thermoforming expertise.

More holistically, 4 Aces (D34) has recently undertaken a root and branch rebrand to reflect the ever-changing packaging landscape and the diverse client base it works with. 4 Aces has been serving the market with food and beverage packaging for more than four decades. The rebrand includes a new look and identity, but moreover sees a renewed focus on sustainability and finding innovative ways to minimise environmental impact and contribute positively to society.

Mondi (A72) strives for sustainability by design. Its operations are integrated across the value chain – from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and films, to developing and manufacturing sustainable consumer and industrial packaging solutions using paper where possible and plastic when useful. Sustainability is at the centre of the company’s strategy and commitment to circularity. This is evidenced by its Eco/Vantage product portfolio and Kraft paper grades for foodservice applications. Fully approved for direct food contact and highly printable for branding purposes, they are made using a certified compostable substrate and can be widely recycled. They are made out of renewable materials and responsibly sourced, with certification available upon request.

To underscore its commitment to sustainability and the environment, Finland’s Mini-Maid (C26) has a variety of certifications to its name, including FSC, PEFC, BRCGS, TÜV Austria, Nordic Swan Ecolabel and DNV. As a manufacturer of paper plates, the company views responsible forestry as a necessity to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality raw materials. In addition, its paper plates are largely made from overspill material, which is not necessary to any other timber-related industry.

Westpak (K52) has recently secured FSC certification as part of its ongoing commitment to enhanced food packaging sustainability. The company is a supplier of diverse and sustainable packaging solutions to some of the biggest names in the UK’s grocery and foodservice industries and prides itself on having a comprehensive and continually evolving product catalogue. Recent additions include StikLok tamper-evident delivery bags that feature large, single-use adhesive strips to create robust closure seals; and HeatWave, an innovation to improve the heat retention of delivery and takeaway pizzas.

These innovations, solutions and services will all be presented at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2025, which takes place 12 & 13 February next year at the NEC, Birmingham.

The event is free to attend and registration is now open.