How to Choose Eco-Friendly Packaging for Your Perth Food Business
, by Shopify API, 3 min reading time
More Perth food businesses are switching to eco-friendly packaging — and not just because of regulations. Customers are asking for it, councils are pushing for it, and in many cases, sustainable packaging is now cost-competitive with conventional options.
But "eco-friendly" is a broad term that gets used loosely. This guide breaks down what actually matters when choosing biodegradable packaging for your Perth cafe, restaurant, or food business.
Why Perth Businesses Are Making the Switch
Western Australia has been progressively banning single-use plastics since 2022. Expanded polystyrene (EPS/styrofoam) food packaging was banned from July 2025. Single-use plastic straws, cutlery, plates, and drink stirrers were banned earlier. More restrictions are likely to follow.
Beyond compliance, there's a genuine customer preference shift in Perth. Particularly in inner-city suburbs — Fremantle, Northbridge, Leederville, Mount Lawley, South Perth — customers actively choose businesses using sustainable packaging.
Understanding the Labels: What Do They Actually Mean?
Recyclable
Recyclable packaging can be processed through standard kerbside recycling. Paper, cardboard, and some plastics (PET, HDPE) fall into this category. Important caveat: food-contaminated packaging often can't be recycled. For recyclable packaging to actually get recycled, it needs to be clean.
Compostable
Compostable packaging breaks down into organic matter under the right conditions. There are two types:
- Home compostable — breaks down in a standard backyard compost bin
- Commercially compostable (AS 4736) — requires industrial composting facilities
In Perth, commercial composting infrastructure is limited, so home compostable is the more genuinely sustainable option for most businesses.
Biodegradable
This term has no regulated definition in Australia. "Biodegradable" packaging can mean almost anything — some products take decades to break down in landfill. Be sceptical without more specific information.
The Best Eco-Friendly Packaging Options for Perth Food Businesses
Paper and Kraft Packaging
Kraft paper boxes, bags, and wrapping paper are the workhorses of sustainable food packaging. Recyclable, made from renewable materials, and they look premium. For burgers, sandwiches, pastries, and dry food items, kraft paper packaging is hard to beat.
Paper Cups
Standard paper cups have a thin plastic lining that makes them difficult to recycle. Look for cups with a plant-based (PLA) lining — these are compostable and increasingly available at competitive prices.
Browse our cups and lids range including eco-friendly options.
Bagasse (Sugarcane) Containers
Bagasse containers are made from sugarcane fibre — a byproduct of sugar production. Sturdy, handle heat well, home compostable, and have a natural look customers respond well to. Good for hot food, soups, and anything that needs a solid container.
PLA (Bioplastic) Containers
PLA containers look like clear plastic but are made from plant starch. They're commercially compostable — best suited for cold dishes like salads where visual clarity matters.
Paper Straws
Plastic straws are banned in WA. Quality paper straws matter — cheap ones go soggy quickly. Look for straws with a tighter paper wrap and wax coating for drinks that take more than a few minutes to consume.
Making the Business Case
The cost gap between conventional and eco-friendly packaging has closed considerably. The price difference is now often 10-20% rather than 50-100%. Factor in customer preference, regulatory compliance, and brand positioning — the business case is strong.
Practical Tips for Switching
- Don't switch everything at once — start with your highest-volume items and transition others as stock runs out
- Test before you bulk-buy — get samples and test with your actual food. A container that looks great might not seal properly for your specific use case.
- Tell your customers — "our packaging is recyclable/compostable" is a genuine selling point worth mentioning on your menu.
- Check WA regulations — stay up to date with the WA plastic ban schedule.
Get Eco-Friendly Packaging for Your Perth Business
Value Pack Perth stocks a range of sustainable packaging — paper cups, kraft boxes, bagasse containers, paper straws, and more — from our Perth warehouse. We supply cafes, restaurants, food trucks, and caterers across Perth and regional WA.
Contact us at valuepackperth.com.au — we'll help you find the right eco-friendly packaging solution at a price that works.