Disposable Containers Are Still Big Business. Here’s What That Means for Food & Beverage Brands
For years, headlines around sustainability have led many to assume disposable packaging is on its way out.
The reality?
Disposable food and beverage packaging is still growing.
The global polypropylene disposable food container market was valued at $18.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to nearly double by 2035. Even as sustainability initiatives accelerate, demand for single-use formats remains strong across coffee shops, QSRs, convenience stores, and beverage brands.
This isn’t a contradiction, it’s a reflection of how consumers actually behave.
Convenience Still Wins
Today’s customers expect speed, portability, and consistency.
They’re grabbing coffee on the way to work.
They’re ordering ahead for pickup.
They’re taking drinks into cars, offices, gyms, and classrooms.
Disposable packaging enables all of that.
For operators, disposables are still the most practical solution for:
High-volume service
Off-premise consumption
Delivery and mobile ordering
Managing labor and turnaround times
Simply put: reusable systems aren’t replacing disposables at scale anytime soon.
The Real Shift: Smarter Disposables
The industry isn’t moving away from disposables, it’s moving toward better disposables.
Brands are increasingly asking:
Can we reduce material without sacrificing performance?
Can this packaging be recyclable or more responsible?
Can this packaging do more than just hold a product?
That last question is where things get interesting.
Packaging Is Becoming a Brand Touchpoint
Every disposable cup and lid leaves your store with a customer.
That means every unit is a potential brand impression.
When packaging is unbranded or generic, that opportunity disappears.
When it’s intentional and on-brand, it becomes a silent marketing channel that works all day, every day.
Leading brands are using packaging to:
Reinforce brand identity
Create visual consistency
Increase recognition in public spaces
Support social media visibility
Custom-branded lids, in particular, sit at eye level and remain visible while the drink is consumed, making them one of the most overlooked branding surfaces in foodservice.
Sustainability and Branding Can Coexist
A common misconception is that sustainability and branding are competing priorities.
They’re not.
Many brands are pursuing both by:
Choosing efficient lid designs that use less material
Working with suppliers focused on responsible sourcing
Leveraging packaging to communicate brand values
Smart design paired with intentional branding allows disposable packaging to serve multiple purposes, functional, environmental, and marketing all at once.
What This Means for Your Brand
If disposable packaging will remain a core part of your operation (and all signs point to yes), the question becomes:
Are you treating it as a cost…
or as a strategic asset?
Brands that win in today’s market look at packaging as part of the customer experience, not an afterthought.
Evaluate Your Packaging Strategy
See how your current lids and cups stack up, and explore smarter, branded alternatives.
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