Sugarcane vs PLA Packaging: Plated vs Packed Café Meals

Choose sugarcane for food you plate or serve in the café, and PLA-coated or PLA-lined paper for food and coffee that leave in a box or cup. Sugarcane in our range covers compartment trays, platters, a soup spoon, clamshells and a 12oz cup. PLA shows up as a coating or lining on paper and kraft items: noodle boxes, lunch boxes and hot cups, several of which can carry your logo.

Key takeaways

• Sugarcane suits plated and dine-in service: 9" compartment trays from $0.36 each and unbleached platters in 10, 12 and 16 inch sizes.
• PLA in our range is a coating or lining on paper, used on the 8oz noodle box, the Extra Large lunch box and the 12oz kraft hot cup.
• The PLA-coated Extra Large lunch box and the 12oz PLA-lined kraft cup can be custom printed. None of the sugarcane items in this list can.
• Both materials are sold by the carton, with the carton price and price per item shown on each product page.
• There is no minimum order, so you can trial one carton of each before committing.

What is the difference between sugarcane and PLA packaging?

Sugarcane items are formed from sugarcane fibre into a single moulded piece, such as a tray, platter, clamshell or cup. PLA packaging in our range is paper or kraft board with a PLA coating or lining on the food or drink side, so the item still looks and handles like a paper box or paper cup.

That difference decides where each one fits. Sugarcane gives you shaped pieces with compartments and wide flat surfaces. PLA-coated paper gives you folding boxes and printable cups.

When should a café use sugarcane?

Use sugarcane where the food is plated, shared or eaten on site, and where compartments or a large flat surface help.

Compartment trays for plated meals. The 3 and 4 compartment 9" trays keep a main, sides and sauce apart on one piece, which suits brunch plates, kids' meals and set lunches. The plain 9" tray at $0.36 each covers single-item serves.

Platters for catering and share boards. The unbleached platters step up from 260mm to 400mm across. The 10in suits a share plate for two, the 12in a grazing board, and the 16in a catering spread for a meeting or function.

Spoon, sauce cup and cup. The soup spoon is $0.12 each in a carton of 1000. The 2oz unbleached cup at $0.06 each holds sauces, dressings and condiments next to a tray. The 12oz sugarcane cup is a plain white option for venues that want the cup to match their sugarcane serving ware.

Sugarcane also comes in takeaway shapes. The 9x6x3 Sugarcane Takeaway Container – Unbleached Clamshell (Carton of 200) at 229x152x75mm is $0.19 each, and the Sugarcane Takeaway Container – Unbleached Clamshell Hamburger 6" (Carton of 400) at 152x152x80mm is $0.16 each.

When should a café use PLA-coated or PLA-lined paper?

Use PLA-coated paper for boxed takeaway and PLA-lined paper for hot coffee, especially when you want the packaging printed with your logo.

Noodle box and lunch box. The 8oz noodle box at $0.16 each suits rice, noodle and small hot serves. The Extra Large lunch box at 197x140x90mm takes a full meal or salad and can be printed with your logo.

Hot cups. The 12oz PLA-lined kraft cup is $0.16 each in a carton of 1000, compared with $0.22 each for the 12oz sugarcane cup in a carton of 400. If coffee is your main takeaway line and you want branded cups, the kraft cup is the one to look at.

Small bowls and sandwiches. The 4oz bamboo fibre bowl with PLA coating is $0.10 each for sides and desserts, and the sandwich wedge at $0.19 each puts a cut sandwich on display in the cabinet.

Sugarcane vs PLA at a glance

Which one should I buy?

Choose by how most of your food leaves the counter:

• Mostly dine-in brunch and lunch: the 3 compartment 9" tray or 4 compartment 9" tray, with the 2oz unbleached cup for sauces.
• Catering and function orders: the 12in and 16in unbleached platters.
• Takeaway-heavy café with a hot food menu: the 8oz noodle box and the Extra Large lunch box.
• Coffee-first café that wants branded cups: the 12oz PLA-lined kraft cup with your logo through custom print.
• A café doing both: sugarcane trays for the dining room and PLA-coated boxes for takeaway. Running one of each means you do not have to force a single material across every order.

You can compare the full range on our takeaway containers and plates and trays pages, or read our eco takeaway containers guide.

How does ordering work?

Everything is sold by the carton, and each product page shows the carton price and price per item. There is no minimum order. Delivery is a flat fee set by your postcode, and free once an order passes a set amount; checkout shows the exact cost, and today's rates are on the shipping page. Delivery takes 3–5 business days to capital cities and 4–6 business days regional. All orders are prepaid online. Damaged or faulty items are replaced or refunded free; unopened stock cartons can be returned within 7 days of delivery (10% restocking fee, return delivery at your cost). To build a mixed order of trays, boxes and cups, use quick order.

Setting up or restocking your packaging?

Send us your list for a trade quote, or price it yourself in the cost calculator.

No minimum order · free delivery over $750 (metro) / $1000 (regional) · damaged items replaced free · Delivery details