Can Corrugated Cardboard Boxes Keep Pizza Warm?

The pizza box is a classic food packaging design with years of established history. For decades, delivery services have used corrugated cardboard boxes to transport freshly made pizza. Think about all the times you ordered pizza in the past. The delivery likely arrived in a flat and squared cardboard box that opens from the top.

Have you wondered why corrugated cardboard is the standard material for pizza packaging instead of other alternatives? A corrugated pizza box is popular because its insulated design preserves the food temperature effectively. Pizza tastes the best when it is hot and fresh instead of cold and soggy. That’s why delivery companies use corrugated packaging to keep pizza warm for as long as possible.

Corrugated pizza boxes have numerous benefits. The material is sturdy, lightweight, and ideal for long-distance transportation. Also, it is highly customizable from a branding standpoint. You have a flat cardboard surface to print your company logo and graphics.

Let’s learn about the characteristics of corrugated pizza boxes.

How are pizza boxes made?

How are pizza boxes made?

A pizza box is a container made with single-wall corrugated cardboard. Corrugated cardboard has multiple protective layers, including a middle layer with a fluted design. The flutes, which look like small arches, reinforce the structural integrity of the pizza box. The top and bottom layers are made with linerboard, a flat material that protects the flutes and gives the box extra stability.

Typically, pizza boxes are flat and squared. Although pizza is round, its container uses a square design due to logistics. A square box is easier and cheaper to manufacture, requiring only one piece of foldable cardboard. The square-shaped boxes can also lay flat and stack conveniently, thus occupying less storage space.

In addition, a pizza box contains liners. The liner is a thin piece of corrugated material that separates the pizza from the base of the box. A pizza box liner absorbs grease so that the container doesn’t become soggy. It also has insulation properties that can keep the pizza at a warm temperature.

Benefits of corrugated pizza boxes

Benefits of corrugated pizza boxes

Corrugated pizza boxes are inexpensive to produce. The assembly process is simple and doesn’t require many different materials. Additionally, corrugated cardboard is sturdy and stackable. You can place multiple pizza boxes on top of each other with no damage to the food product. Yet, these boxes are also lightweight, making them excellent for deliveries.

Corrugated cardboard boxes come with customization options. You have a large flat surface to brand the box with your logo, graphics, and other information. While the conventional pizza box colour is brown, it is possible to change the appearance. You can adjust the styling to white, red, or any colour scheme to make your packaging stand out.

How to keep pizza warm in a box

How to keep pizza warm in a box

Corrugated pizza boxes are thermally insulated to preserve the temperature and humidity of the food. Due to the corrugated packaging materials, the sealed container effectively locks in heat and prevents cold air from entering the box. As a result, the pizza can stay warm in the box for a long time.

A pizza box has small ventilation slots to allow a bit of heat to escape over time. This intuitive design helps the food cool down safely and slowly. The airing holes also reduce condensation, so the pizza crust is still crispy upon arriving at the delivery destination.

A corrugated box offers insulation benefits not found in other alternatives. For example, a metal container doesn’t seem practical because it is conductive and transfers heat from the pizza. Likewise, a plastic container is inefficient because the food temperature may melt the packaging material. Similarly, non-corrugated cardboard doesn’t have enough protective layers. If the container gets wet, it may bend due to condensation.

Can you recycle pizza boxes?

Can you recycle pizza boxes?

Yes, some pizza boxes might be recyclable. However, this policy is not universal. Check the recycling guidelines in your municipality, which may vary between locations. The general rule is that the pizza box should be empty and not contain bits of food. When recycling these boxes, ensure you flatten the containers as much as possible.

Typically, a minimal amount of grease and stain on the pizza box is acceptable. However, it is best to review your collection program and follow the specified recycling instructions. Remember that greasy pizza boxes are not very eco-friendly and may contaminate other recyclables in the bin. Use your discretion when disposing of pizza boxes. If the packaging seems too dirty, it may belong in the trash instead.

Some pizza deliveries come with a heat-resistant plastic piece called the pizza saver. You may find this tiny object placed in the middle of the box. It prevents the top of the packaging from touching the pizza. Not every restaurant uses a pizza saver, which has received criticism for being made with single-use plastic. These pizza savers are not recyclable, so throw them away accordingly.