One Look, Two Smells, Three Tests, Easily Pick the Right Packing Boxes
Nowadays, there are more and more people ordering takeout and eating fast food, and disposable packaging boxes have become a necessity. Whether you are a restaurant owner or you often order takeout, you have to learn how to pick the right box. Especially Chinese food togo containers, not only should be practical, but also safe and environmentally friendly. Today we will teach you a simple and practical method: "one look, two smell, three test", so you can easily distinguish between various materials, pick a good box.
1. What Materials Are Commonly Used in Packing Boxes?
First, figure out what the box is made of, to know how to distinguish between good and bad. Packing boxes on the market are particularly varied; they look similar, in fact, the material is not the same, with a big difference. Here are a few common materials:
PP: The Most Common Microwave Heating Box
PP is the kind of plastic box we usually use to pack hot meals, such as soup and rice, rice will be used. It is resistant to high temperature, not afraid of hot water, can also enter the microwave, and is chinese food togo containers in the most used one. The disadvantage is that it is not as transparent and does not look as bright.
PET: the favorite box for iced drinks and cold food.
This kind of material is especially transparent, like the kind of box for salads, fruit cups, and cold drinks is PET. It is beautiful, but afraid of the heat and can not go into the microwave. Many Chinese food togo containers also use PET to make the transparent top cover, which looks clean and nice.
PS: The Common Foam Lunch Box
Some fast food containers are very light, like foam, usually made of PS material. The good thing is that it is cheap and light, the bad thing is that it may not be too safe to heat, and easy to break, but also not environmentally friendly, and now fewer and fewer people use it.
PLA: Environmentally Friendly Materials from Corn
PLA is made from corn starch, which is biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Many environmentally friendly brands will choose it to make cold food packaging boxes. However, this thing is afraid of heat; encountering high temperatures will make it soft, making it suitable for hot soup and hot rice.
Pulp Molding: Like Paper but Stronger Than Paper
This material is made of bagasse, straw, and other natural materials, looks like paper, but is harder than paper, and environmental protection can also be degraded. Now, many eco-friendly restaurants, airlines like to use these Chinese food togo containers, environmental protection and texture.
2. Look: From the Appearance of the Box, it Can Be Seen What Materials
Don't look down on the appearance; the box can actually see the doorway at a glance. Observe the appearance of the packing box; in fact, you can probably judge what material it is. It is enough to look at a few places:
Look at the Degree of Transparency and Thickness
If the box is especially clear and bright like glass, it is PET or PLA in all probability; if it is a little bit hazy and not too clear, it may be PP. This method is especially suitable for choosing boxes for cold or hot meals.
Look at the Number on the Bottom of the Box
Most Chinese food to-go containers have a triangle at the bottom with a number inside. Most Chinese food togo containers have a triangle with a number on the bottom. "5" stands for PP, '1' is PET, and "7" is mostly PLA or mixed materials. It is easy and practical to know what it is made of at a glance.
Look at the Box Structure and Lid Fit
Some advanced boxes have a particularly tight lid and a stacking design, which is convenient for packing and delivery. This kind of box is usually made of PP or PET, which is firm and does not leak. If the lid is loose and flimsy, it is mostly low-cost materials of poor quality.
3. Smell: Smell with the Nose Can Distinguish Between Good and Bad
Smell is also a trick to pick the box, especially suitable for procurement people. Nose a little better, people, in fact, a sniff can distinguish the box of good and bad, especially when it's new and open or just heating.
Does the Newly Opened Lid Have Any Odor?
Good Chinese food togo containers basically don't have any smell, PP and PET are mostly odorless. If there is a plastic or even pungent smell when you open the container, it may be made of poor-quality materials, such as PS or recycled plastic.
Does It Smell Bad When Heated
Put the box in the microwave and heat it up; good materials will not have a bad odor. If there is a stinky plastic odor once heated, it may be made of PS or PET, which are not suitable for heating in the first place.
Eco-Friendly Materials Have a More Specific Flavor
PLA or pulp molding, this kind of environmental protection material smells a little of plant flavor, paper flavor, not bad. On the contrary, this natural flavor is a sign of an eco-friendly lunch box.
4. Tests: Three Simple Strokes, Hands Can Try out the Real Good and Bad
Move your own hands, and you can also easily determine the material and quality of the box. In addition to seeing and smelling, you can also do some small experiments, even in the office or at home, which is very convenient.
Hot Water Test: To See the Heat Resistance
Pour some hot water into the box and see if it will deform. If it softens, it may be made of PLA or PS, which is not suitable for hot soup; if there is no change at all, it is mostly PP, which is very suitable for Chinese food togo containers.
Press It: See if It's Strong or Not
Use your hand to press the lid or bottom of the box to see if it will collapse; PP is generally tough and not easy to crush; PET is hard but brittle and easy to crack; paper pulp boxes are flexible but not suitable for load-bearing for too long.
Scratch a Scratch: See Thick or Not, Wear-Resistant or Not
Scratch the box with a key or fingernail on the side a few times, if it falls off the crumbs, powder, then certainly the quality is not good. Good Chinese food to-go containers have a smooth, scratch-resistant surface and will not be scratched easily.
Where to Buy Chinese Food Togo Containers?
Huizhou Yangrui Printing & Packaging Co., Ltd., a professional manufacturer of disposable lunch boxes, specializes in the research, development, and production of high-quality Chinese food to-go containers. We use a variety of environmentally friendly materials, including PP, PET, PLA, and pulp molding. We offer OEM/ODM customization services and support international certifications (such as ISO and FDA).
Email: sales@packagingbag5.com
Tel: +86 180 8644 3226
References
- European Bioplastics. (2024). Bioplastics Market Data 2023.
- U.S. FDA. (2023). Food Packaging Materials & Safety.
- ASTM International. (2022). Standard Terminology for Compostable Plastics (ASTM D6400)
- China Plastics Processing Industry Association. (2023). "White Paper on the Performance and Safety of Disposable Lunch Box Materials"
- Food Packaging Forum. (2024). Understanding Plastic Packaging Safety in Food Contact.
