Graphic Packaging International, a global leader in sustainable consumer packaging, has unveiled its innovative new portfolio of paperboard sushi packaging designed to help foodservice operators meet the requirements of European packaging legislation and offer consumers the paperboard packaging they prefer.¹  

Graphic Packaging’s latest offering is tailored to support operators in this market who are looking for alternatives to traditional plastic sushi packaging. The new portfolio includes options that meet the ‘plastic-free’ definition according to the EU’s Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) guidance³, alongside solutions containing no plastic lamination or less than five percent plastic. All formats can be designed to be recyclable in European household waste streams.  

“The European sushi market is growing. In Germany, for example, the ready-to-eat sushi segment has risen from seven percent to more than 30 percent⁴ of the snack market in just a few years,” said Philipp Eissner, business development manager at Graphic Packaging. “While the market is expanding at speed, consumers are increasingly conscious of the need for more sustainable packaging options. Our new range helps operators meet regulatory requirements and deliver a strong sustainability narrative through packaging choice while maintaining freshness and enhancing shelf appeal.” 

The new paperboard portfolio features clamshells, trays, pagoda-style designs, and boxes. Each format has been engineered to preserve product freshness, and fog-free cellulose windows deliver great product visibility. Windowless formats can also be selected. Trays can be supplied flat or nested to maximise storage space in compact sushi kiosks, while the intelligent structural design ensures easy and efficient handling. In addition, strong on-shelf differentiation can be achieved through vibrant, high-impact graphics. 

“As SUPD requirements are reshaping the European food packaging landscape, our global innovation capabilities ensure we can support customers through a smooth transition from plastic to paperboard while delivering the circularity, functionality, and convenience they need to succeed. 

“Our fresh take on sushi packaging is a classic example of our approach to insight-led design, meeting real customer needs of today and tomorrow,” added Eissner. 

¹ ProCarton European Consumer Packaging Perceptions Study 2025 

² European Frozen Sushi Market Report 2024, Cognitive Market Research https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com/regional-analysis/europe-frozen-sushi-market-report 

³ Not pre-empting possible national interpretations that may vary 

⁴ The sushi market – Germany, Businesscoot https://www.businesscoot.com/en/study/the-sushi-market-germany 

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