Deliveroo's new takeaway boxes help restaurants cut plastic waste and spills

Key Information:

• Company involved: Deliveroo, in partnership with BioPak and Sheffield Hallam University.
• Product change: A new takeaway box featuring an innovative cardboard locking mechanism designed to reduce plastic use and prevent spillages.
• Who is affected: UK restaurant partners and customers receiving food deliveries.
• When: Available on the Deliveroo packaging webstore as of late January/early February 2026.
• What shoppers should do next: Expect to see the new packaging used by local restaurants; the boxes are designed to be industrially compostable where facilities exist.

Deliveroo has officially launched a new takeaway box designed to replace conventional plastic-lined containers across its UK network. The packaging, which entered the company’s webstore last week, features a unique locking mechanism developed by apprentices from Sheffield Hallam University.

The initiative is a result of a three-way partnership between Deliveroo, packaging producer BioPak, and the university’s Professional Packaging BSc programme. The design was the winning entry from Deliveroo’s 2024 Sustainable Packaging Competition, aimed at creating functional solutions for the food delivery industry.

Improved food security and temperature control

The new design, created by apprentices Josephine Shaw and William Shaw, focuses on two primary consumer concerns: spillages and food temperature.

According to Deliveroo, the packaging features:

• A brand new sealing system using additional cardboard folds.
• A secure locking mechanism to enhance stability during transit.
• Materials designed to maintain food at the correct temperature from restaurant to doorstep.

The packaging has been produced without significant extra cost, making it a competitive alternative for restaurant partners compared to traditional options.

Environmental impact and disposal

The packaging is intended to reduce the use of conventional fossil-fuel plastics. It is manufactured from PLA-lined paperboard (EN13432), which utilises a plant-based material rather than traditional plastic lining.

Regarding disposal, the packaging is industrially compostable where such facilities exist. This allows the boxes to be disposed of alongside food waste to be turned into compost, rather than being sent to a landfill. This is particularly relevant for food-contaminated packaging, which is rarely accepted in standard recycling streams.

Official Statements

Jen Bagshaw, Head of Packaging at Deliveroo, said: "By providing the platform and financial backing to turn the students’ creative vision into a reality, we are thrilled to see this solution officially launch on our webstore for our partners to purchase."

Designers William Shaw and Josephine Cooper added: "We focused on creating a locking mechanism that performs in the real world... we hope this proves that sustainable packaging can be both highly functional and cost-effective."

Deliveroo has confirmed that the Sustainable Packaging Challenge returned in 2025 in collaboration with GAIL’s Bakery to continue developing new solutions for the sector.