Plastic food containers are everywhere—used for takeout, storage, delivery, and more. But how are they made? This article walks through the full production process, from raw materials to finished product, in a way that helps businesses, manufacturers, or consumers understand the craft and quality behind durable, safe food containers.
What Plastics Are Used for Food Containers
Key Manufacturing Processes
Extrusion
Thermoforming
Injection Molding
Blow Molding
Post-Processing and Quality Control
Safety, Regulations & Sustainability Considerations
About LVHUI: Your Manufacturer for Disposable Food & soup containers
Conclusion
Common types of plastics include:
Polypropylene (PP) — Good heat resistance; often used for containers that may be microwaved.
Polyethylene (PE) — Lower cost, good flexibility; sometimes used for lids or flexible parts.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET / PETG) — Good clarity, good barrier properties, common for products needing visibility.
Polystyrene, PVC, etc. — Used in some products although concerns about environmental impact have limited uses.
Plastic quality for food containers also depends on additives (for color, UV stability, etc.), plastic grades (food-grade, virgin vs recycled), and compliance with safety standards.
Different shapes, volumes, and use-cases call for different manufacturing methods. The major ones are:
| Process | What It Does / Typical Use | Pros & Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Extrusion | Melts plastic pellets and pushes them through a die to form continuous sheets or parisons. Sheets are later used in thermoforming; parisons used in blow molding. | Pros: Efficient, continuous production; good for sheet/film. Cons: Limited to simple cross-section shapes; downstream trimming needed. |
| Thermoforming | Plastic sheet is heated to pliable condition then shaped over (or into) a mold by vacuum or pressure. After cooling, trimming removes excess. Common for trays, hinged containers, clamshells. | Pros: Good for large shallow containers, fast production, lower tooling cost vs injection molding. Cons: Limited thickness control; edges/trims generate waste; complexity limited. |
| Injection Molding | Plastic is melted and injected into closed molds, cooled, then ejected. Good for detailed or thick parts. | Pros: High precision; can make complex shapes; thicker walls. Cons: Tooling and molds expensive; slower cycle time; less suited for large flat trays. |
| Blow Molding / Extrusion-Blow Molding | Create hollow shapes: plastic parison is inflated in a mold to form bottles or hollow containers. | Pros: Ideal for hollow forms; efficient for certain container types. Cons: Less used for flat or rigid trays; may require more material; tooling costs. |
Once the basic shape is formed, several steps follow:
Trimming / Cutting — Remove excess plastic or “web” from thermoforming or extrusion sheets.
Molding Inserts or Hinges — For hinged containers or lids, often integrated into mold designs (e.g. “living hinges”).
Surface Treatment / Finishing — Including printing labels, embossing logos, adding texture, or applying coatings.
Inspection & Testing
Check for warping, uneven thickness, strength, leak resistance.
Ensure food safety: compliance with regulatory standards (e.g. limits on certain chemicals, migration testing).
Packaging & Shipping — The final product is packed (often in bulk), palletized, and transported. Timing, protection from damage, and hygienic cleanliness are critical.
Food Safety Regulations: Every country has rules governing what plastics and additives are allowed for food contact. There are also regulations around migration of substances into food, heat tolerance (microwave/boil), etc.
Sustainability / Environmental Impact:
Use of recycled content (PCR plastics).
Biodegradable or compostable materials are growing in demand.
Minimizing waste in trimming and efficient designs.
Considering full lifecycle: how the container is used, disposed of, or recycled.
Design for Reuse / Recyclability: Choosing plastic types that are widely recyclable helps; design that avoids mixed materials difficult to separate.
Here’s some info about LVHUI (Taishan Lvhui Environmental Plastic Technology Co., Ltd.), based on your website:
LVHUI is located in the Chaojing Overseas Chinese Investment Demonstration Zone, Baisha Town, Taishan City, Guangdong Province, China.
The factory covers about 35,000 m² and was founded in July 2019.
The company focuses on producing disposable environmental protection tableware, including Disposable Soup Cups, round and rectangular plastic containers, semi-biodegradable and Biodegradable Lunch Boxes.
LVHUI emphasizes quality, on-time delivery, online support (24/7), and strict testing to meet customer needs.
Key selling points: modern automated production workshops, product development teams, integrity and customer-first business philosophy.
So, LVHUI is well-positioned to supply different types of disposable food and soup containers with a combination of environmental awareness and manufacturing capability.
Making plastic food containers is a multi-step process involving:
Choosing the right plastic material
Selecting proper manufacturing technology (thermoforming, injection molding, extrusion, etc.)
Post-processing, finishing, packaging
Ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental responsibility
Companies like LVHUI combine these technical processes with a focus on environmental protection and quality to deliver products that meet both industrial demands and consumer expectations.
