Why were they even square? Pizza Hut trials circular plant-based pizza boxes

24 Oct 2019 --- Pizza lovers have long accepted the fact that round pizza pies are served in square boxes. Fast food giant Pizza Hut is challenging this tradition with its limited-time launch of circular pizza boxes at one of its locations in Phoenix, US.

“This revolutionary round box – the result of a two-year journey – is the most innovative packaging we've rolled out to date,” says Nicolas Burquier, Chief Customer and Operations Officer, Pizza Hut. “The round box was engineered to make our products taste even better – by delivering hotter, crispier pizzas. This box is a win, win as it will improve the pizza-eating experience for our customers and simplify the operating experience for our team members.”

Pizza Hut has come 'round with its circular pizza boxes.Pizza Hut partnered with high-tech pizza delivery company Zume to design a sustainable way to put a round pizza in a round box. The circular packaging made from sustainably harvested plant fiber contains less overall packaging material compared to a typical square pizza box. Likewise, it is industrially compostable where available, and has a top that easily interlocks with the bottom to ensure a smoother delivery.

The company welcomes customers in the Phoenix area to try its limited-run Garden Specialty Pizza, now also featuring Incogmeato plant-based toppings. Pizzas will be served in the new round box featuring Pizza Hut's green roof logo, while supplies last. This new product combo will be sold for US$10 and is available in-store only. All proceeds raised from the sale of the Garden Specialty Pizza and round box during the one day event in Phoenix on October 23 will be donated to Arizona Forward, a Phoenix-based sustainability organization.

Pizza Hut is not alone in the race to trial alternative packaging solutions. In a bid to test new recycling initiatives, McDonald’s opened the “Better McDonald’s Store” in Berlin this summer, replacing all food and beverage packaging with plastic-free alternatives. This restaurant experiment served both to anticipate compliance requirements for the impending EU-wide ban on single-use plastic, as well as to address consumer concerns on plastic waste.

Edited by Anni Schleicher