Why are your delivery margins shrinking despite steady sales? Eco-packaging costs 2-3x more than standard plastic, and most restaurants absorb these costs instead of adjusting their pricing. You're essentially giving away €20-40 per day without realizing it.
Why eco-packaging affects your margin
Standard plastic containers cost €0.15-0.25 per set. Eco alternatives (cardboard, sugarcane, PLA) run €0.35-0.65 per set. Seems minor? With 100 daily orders, you're looking at €7,300-14,600 in extra annual costs.
⚠️ Watch out:
Always factor packaging costs into your food cost. A dish with 32% food cost can jump to 35% because of expensive packaging — then you're not making enough profit.
Types of packaging costs you need to include
Delivery requires more packaging components than dine-in service:
- Main packaging: container, box, or tray for the dish
- Lid: often a separate item from your supplier
- Cutlery: wooden or PLA forks, knives, spoons
- Napkins: recycled paper costs more than standard
- Carry bags: paper or biodegradable bags
- Stickers/labels: for sealing and branding
? Example:
Pasta carbonara delivery — complete packaging breakdown:
- Cardboard container + lid: €0.42
- Wooden fork: €0.08
- Recycled napkin: €0.03
- Paper bag: €0.12
- Sealing sticker: €0.02
Total packaging: €0.67
Calculation: from packaging costs to new selling price
You've got two paths: build packaging costs into your food cost, or charge them separately.
Option 1: Include in food cost
Add packaging costs to ingredient costs and recalculate your minimum selling price.
? Example:
Pasta carbonara — cost calculation with eco-packaging:
- Ingredients: €4.80
- Eco-packaging: €0.67
- Total costs: €5.47
- Target food cost: 30%
Minimum selling price excl. VAT: €5.47 ÷ 0.30 = €18.23
Selling price incl. 9% VAT: €18.23 × 1.09 = €19.87
Option 2: Separate packaging surcharge
Charge a fixed surcharge for sustainable packaging. More transparent for customers.
- Keep your current menu price
- Add: "Sustainable packaging: €0.75"
- Customer sees exactly what they're paying for sustainability
Eco-packaging as a marketing tool
Many customers want sustainable ordering but don't realize the true cost. By being transparent about packaging expenses, you transform sustainability into a conscious choice rather than a hidden expense.
? Example menu communication:
"All dishes arrive in 100% compostable sugarcane packaging. We charge €0.75 for sustainable packaging per order."
Different eco-packaging options and their costs
Not all sustainable packaging carries the same price tag. Here's what you'll pay for common options:
- Recycled cardboard: €0.25-0.40 per container (most affordable eco-option)
- Sugarcane (bagasse): €0.35-0.50 per container (heat-resistant)
- PLA (plant-based plastic): €0.40-0.60 per container (looks like conventional plastic)
- Bamboo fiber: €0.50-0.75 per container (premium appearance)
- Aluminum (reusable): €0.45-0.65 per container (recyclable)
⚠️ Watch out:
PLA packaging looks like plastic but only composts in industrial facilities, not home compost bins. Communicate this honestly to your customers.
Impact on your total margin
Eco-packaging increases costs but can boost your average order value. One of the most common blind spots in kitchen management is underestimating how sustainability-focused customers behave — they typically spend more per order and return more frequently than price-focused diners.
Cost calculation tools help you automatically include packaging expenses in your pricing, so you'll always know each dish's true cost including sustainable packaging materials.
How do you calculate eco-packaging costs into your cost price?
Inventory all packaging components
Make a list of everything you need per order: container, lid, cutlery, napkins, carry bags, and stickers. Add up what each component costs from your supplier.
Calculate total packaging costs per dish
Add up all packaging costs and divide by the number of dishes in an average order. An order of 2 dishes means €0.67 packaging ÷ 2 = €0.34 per dish.
Add packaging costs to ingredient costs
Add packaging costs to your ingredient costs and recalculate your food cost percentage. If this goes above 35%, you need to raise your selling price.
✨ Pro tip
Calculate your eco-packaging costs per dish weekly, not monthly. Prices fluctuate frequently, and a €0.05 increase across 500 weekly orders costs you €1,300 annually if you don't catch it quickly.
Calculate this yourself?
In the KitchenNmbrs app you can do this in just a few clicks. 7 days free, no credit card.
Calculate it yourself?
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Frequently asked questions
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Sources consulted
- EU Verordening 852/2004 — Levensmiddelenhygiëne (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 853/2004 — Hygiënevoorschriften voor levensmiddelen van dierlijke oorsprong (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 1169/2011 — Voedselinformatie aan consumenten (2011) — Official source
- NVWA — Hygiënecode voor de horeca (2024) — Official source
- NVWA — Allergenen in voedsel (2024) — Official source
- Codex Alimentarius — International Food Standards (2024) — Official source
- FSA — Safer food, better business (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- BVL — Lebensmittelhygiene (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) — https://www.food.gov.uk
The HACCP standards shown in this application are for informational purposes only. KitchenNmbrs does not guarantee that displayed values are current or complete. Always consult the FSA or your local authority for the latest regulations.
Written by
Jeffrey Smit
Founder & CEO of KitchenNmbrs
Jeffrey Smit built KitchenNmbrs from 8 years of hands-on experience as kitchen manager at 1NUL8 Group in Rotterdam. His mission: give every restaurant owner control over food cost.
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