From Transport Box to Tray

Sometimes the opportunity to reuse material comes ready-made. At Hesburger, broken polypropylene transport boxes used in logistics have been transformed into trays. The idea emerged when we considered how to make better use of material that previously ended up as waste. Broken polypropylene boxes are suitable secondary material for trays, as they are large enough and clean when discarded.

31,000 boxes = 175,000 trays

Together with our partners Touchpoint and Wiitta Oy, we tested the idea in practice. It worked so well that we decided to start producing trays for restaurant use. So far, 31,000 broken boxes have been repurposed, producing about 175,000 trays.

In the manufacturing process, the boxes are shredded into small pieces, turned into plastic granules, melted, and injected into tray moulds. Producing a single tray takes about one minute. Some 175,000 trays have already been created out of 31,000 boxes.

Proven in Practice

The trays have been tested for restaurant use: they withstand machine washing and heat tunnels. They have also undergone the necessary laboratory tests required for recycled plastics. A tray made of recycled plastic has a carbon footprint up to 85% lower than one made of virgin plastic.