Deliveroo launches compostable PLA-lined takeaway box in UK

UK – Deliveroo has introduced a new compostable, paper-based takeaway box to its webstore, expanding its sustainable packaging portfolio for restaurant partners.

The solution, designed by students from Sheffield Hallam University and manufactured by Biopak, features a PLA-lined paperboard structure and an enhanced locking mechanism aimed at preventing spillages.

The box is made from paperboard with a plant-based polylactic acid (PLA) lining and is designed to be composted in food waste streams where infrastructure allows.

Deliveroo says the format provides an alternative end-of-life route to conventional plastic takeaway containers, which are often not recycled due to food contamination.

Jen Bagshaw, Head of Packaging at Deliveroo, described the initiative as part of the company’s broader push to address packaging waste challenges.

“Partnering with the talented apprentices at Sheffield Hallam University has been an inspiring journey, allowing us to champion the next generation of sustainable packaging designers,” she said.

“By providing the platform and financial backing to turn the students’ creative vision into a reality, we are thrilled to see this solution officially launch on our webstore for our partners to purchase.”

The project originated from Deliveroo’s first Sustainable Packaging Challenge in 2024, which tasked students with developing a takeaway box capable of maintaining food temperature while reducing spillages during delivery.

The winning concept, created by Josephine Cooper and William Shaw, incorporates additional cardboard folds to form a more secure sealing system.

“Seeing our design progress from a university project to a live product on the Deliveroo webstore is an incredible feeling,” said Shaw and Cooper.

“We focused on creating a locking mechanism that performs in the real world. We hope this proves that sustainable packaging can be highly functional and cost-effective.”

The launch comes amid growing industry interest in compostable materials as regulators and brands seek to divert food-contaminated packaging from landfill and incineration.

However, compostable solutions remain subject to regional waste infrastructure capabilities and regulatory scrutiny.

Recent developments underscore the evolving debate. Tipa Compostable Packaging is set to showcase compostable labels at Packaging Innovations 2026, positioning them as a solution to contamination issues in organic waste streams.

Meanwhile, in the US, a Department of Agriculture board recently voted against adding certain synthetic compostable materials to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, citing concerns over potential contamination from PFAS and microplastics.

As food delivery volumes remain high across the UK, Deliveroo’s latest move reflects a broader industry effort to balance performance, cost and sustainability in last-mile packaging.

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