Compostable Food Trays.

Bagasse, the fibre left after sugarcane is pressed, moulded into a rigid tray with no lining. Moulded wood fibre is the alternative with a slightly different surface. The fibre is naturally oil resistant, holds its shape with hot food inside and goes in the microwave and the freezer, which is unusual for a plastic-free format.

Most certifications are industrial, tested to ASTM D6400 or EN 13432, and the claim should say which. Home composting rarely reaches the temperatures those standards assume. We supply the certification documentation and print the marks on the tray or sleeve so the disposal route is stated rather than implied.

For the length of a normal service, yes, but very wet or acidic food standing for hours is the format's one weakness. The fibre is porous by nature, so a curry left overnight will soften the base. Moulded compartments keep wet and dry components apart within one tray, and a compostable lidding film seals the top for display.

With a printed sleeve, an applied label or an embossed logo, because the textured surface does not take direct high-detail print. A board sleeve carries the brand and the required marks around the tray. A label on the lid or rim is the simplest route. The emboss is pressed in during moulding and is subtle but permanent.

Common sizes are 6 by 4 by 1.5 inches and 9 by 6 by 2 inches, measured on the outside. Compartmented meal trays split the larger footprint into two or three sections. Because the trays are moulded, a new size means a new tool, so we usually steer a first order onto an existing footprint and only cut tooling once volumes justify it.

Trays are supplied from 500 units upward. Past 1,000 the price moves into tiers. A printed sleeve or label is quoted alongside so the branded count matches the tray count, and natural bagasse at the minimum is the cheapest way to trial the format before committing to a bleached or compartmented version.

Standard supply is 7 to 10 business days, with a 5 to 7 business day rush available. Samples take 5 to 7 business days. Put a hot portion in one, microwave it, and leave it an hour to see how the base behaves. The sample fee is credited against the tray order that follows.

Natural unbleached fibre is the recognisable look and the cheapest, and white is there for kitchens where natural reads too rustic. Both are the same material underneath with the same certification. White shows a printed sleeve more cleanly. Natural hides minor marks from handling and signals the compostable story without a word of print.