Hotpack, HZ Corporation form HZP Eco Packaging joint venture for paper-based foodservice solutions

UAE – Hotpack has formed a joint venture with Malaysia’s HZ Corporation to establish HZP Eco Packaging, targeting paper-based foodservice packaging across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and North America with an initial product line of paper cups, folding cartons and paper bags.

The venture targets high-growth markets where regulatory and consumer pressure to reduce plastic packaging is intensifying, particularly across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and North America. 

The first phase of product commercialisation will focus on airlines, coffee brands, catering companies, food delivery platforms and quick-service restaurant chains, where the shift from plastic to paper-based alternatives has accelerated significantly in response to single-use plastic regulations and evolving consumer preferences for sustainable packaging options.

How Certified Sustainable Paper Packaging Addresses QSR and Airline Demands

All products manufactured under the partnership are certified to internationally recognised standards including FSC, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001, BRCGS and the SMETA 4-Pillar audit framework, with ECO Label certification for compostability where applicable. 

The venture’s initial product line will include paper cups, folding cartons, paper bags and other foodservice packaging products designed to meet the specific requirements of high-volume foodservice operations. 

This certification framework provides customers with assurance that the paper-based alternatives meet both performance and sustainability requirements across multiple jurisdictions, addressing concerns about durability, heat resistance and food safety in demanding environments such as airline catering and quick-service restaurant operations.

Why Complementary Capabilities Accelerate Global Sustainable Packaging Adoption

Hotpack, established in Dubai in 1995, operates from 30 locations worldwide and supplies customers in more than 100 countries, with a strong presence in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia. 

HZ Corporation brings manufacturing expertise in paper cups, folding cartons, other paper packaging products, and dry-moulded fibre technology for selected packaging applications. 

The joint venture combines Hotpack’s international operating base and global distribution network with HZ Corporation’s manufacturing expertise in paper-based foodservice packaging, creating a vertically integrated platform capable of serving customers across multiple continents with consistent quality and supply reliability. 

Abdul Jebbar, Managing Director and Group CEO of Hotpack, stated that the partnership creates a strong platform to deliver high-quality, certified sustainable solutions to customers worldwide while supporting Hotpack’s long-term vision of expanding access to practical and scalable alternatives that help businesses meet evolving sustainability requirements.

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