Innovative Morro™ Coating, made from plants, is now widely available in Huhtamaki’s range of ‘Taste’ hot food boxes exclusively through Bunzl UK & Ireland’s established distribution networks.

Classified as plastic-free under the European SUP Directive, Morro Coating is now available direct to food service businesses in the UK and Ireland for the first time, responding to growing regulatory pressures.

The new packaging range with Xampla’s barrier coating made with unmodified natural plant polymers offers excellent grease and leak resistance while maintaining recyclability credentials.

Materials innovation company, Xampla, today announces a major commercial advance as Bunzl UK & Ireland add Huhtamaki’s ‘Taste’ hot food boxes with Morro Coating to its comprehensive range of food service packaging.

Bunzl UK & Ireland is a leading supplier in the food service sector providing a significant platform for the introduction of Morro Coating to the industry.

The ‘Taste’ boxes are available now across Bunzl’s extensive network of operating companies, delivering to national restaurant chains, transport hubs, hotels, contract caterers, and stadiums across the UK and Ireland.

Crafted in the UK from responsibly-sourced papers and available in a range of sizes, the ‘Taste’ boxes range features an embossed Morro marque to showcase it has a barrier coating made from plants.

Classified as plastic-free under the European SUP Directive alongside rigorous in-house evaluations at Xampla, Morro Coating offers excellent grease and leak resistance while still maintaining the recyclability of the premium packaging range.

This partnership follows a comprehensive evaluation of Morro Coating’s performance, recyclability and its end-of-life scenarios.

Xampla’s natural plant protein technology offers a scalable, drop-in alternative for manufacturers and brands navigating regulatory and environmental pressures, as well as responding to consumer demand.

Alexandra French, Chief Executive at Xampla, said: 

“The launch of Huhtamaki’s ‘Taste’ Boxes with Morro™ Coating represents a new level of success for Xampla. Our exclusive partnership with Bunzl sees Morro Coating introduced to a significant number of food service operators in the UK and Ireland for the first time, presenting their customers with the very latest in SUPD-exempt materials and product innovation. Bunzl UK & Ireland’s established distribution networks are second to none, and we are delighted to be exclusively partnering together.”

Katie Shaw, Purchasing Director at Bunzl Catering & Hospitality Division, said:

“At Bunzl, we’re committed to providing our customers with food packaging solutions that team the highest standards of performance with credible sustainability attributes. ‘Taste’ hot food boxes with Morro Coating, made from plants, are leak-proof and perfect for delivery, hot counters, and al-fresco dining. We’re confident that Xampla’s Morro Coating technology delivers the barrier performance our customers require in their food service operations.”

The introduction of Xampla products to Bunzl UK & Ireland’s extensive range of food packaging products builds on recent momentum, following Just Eat Takeaway.com’s introduction of Morro coated delivery boxes to over 40,000 restaurant partners across Germany.

This latest milestone demonstrates the growing success of Xampla’s licensing agreement with 2M Group of Companies, which supplies packaging manufacturers including Huhtamaki, a key partner in bringing Morro™ Coating to market, at scale.

Bunzl UK & Ireland will serve as the exclusive distributor for Huhtamaki’s ‘Taste’ hot food boxes featuring Morro™ Coating into the UK and Ireland until October 2025.

ENDS

Media Contact: 

Catherine Kitchen

[email protected] 

07763 671844

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Xampla and Morro™ materials

Xampla is a materials innovation company unlocking the power of plants to create natural materials that change the world. Its range of world-first Morro™ materials are natural alternatives developed to address the plastic pollution crisis, and have been designed to eliminate the worldʼs most polluting plastics.

400 million tonnes of plastic waste produced every year globally – a third of which is attributed to the food and beverage industry. Morro™ materials are designed to leave nothing harmful behind.

Made from plants with no chemical modification, they are completely plastic-free, home compostable, fully biodegradable, and SUPD exempt. In scaling their Morro™ materials, Xampla has partnered with leading organisations including Just Eat Takeaway.com, ELEMIS, Gousto, Huhtamaki, Transcend Packaging, and 2M Group of Companies.

Find out more at www.xampla.com/morro-materials

About Bunzl UK & Ireland.

Bunzl UK & Ireland supplies, through a number of specialist distribution businesses, a range of more than 100,000 products including food packaging, disposable supplies, catering equipment, healthcare consumables and cleaning and safety products to supermarkets, retailers, hotels, restaurants and caterers, construction companies, healthcare providers and other users. Based in Epsom, Surrey, Bunzl UK & Ireland operates from over 80 locations throughout the UK and Ireland and is regarded as a leading supplier in its chosen market sectors.

About Huhtamaki:

Huhtamaki is a leading global provider of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers around the world. Our innovative products protect on-the-go and on-the-shelf food and beverages, and personal care products, ensuring hygiene and safety, driving accessibility and affordability, and helping prevent food waste. We embed sustainability in everything we do.

The Huhtamaki Taste Range is a trusted choice across the foodservice industry, delivering consistent quality and reliable performance. Designed to meet the demands of busy kitchens, fluted, corrugated Taste boxes offer excellent rigidity, insulation with superb grease and leak resistance to keep food fresh and secure. With a proven track record, the Taste Range supports operators in serving great food with confidence, combining practicality and durability in every meal.

Huhtamaki has over 100 years of history and a strong Nordic heritage. Our around 18 000 professionals are operating in 37 countries and 103 locations around the world. Our values are Care Dare Deliver. In 2023 Huhtamaki’s net sales totaled EUR 4.2 billion. Huhtamäki Oyj is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and the head office is in Espoo, Finland. Find out more at www.huhtamaki.com.