In the airline catering industry, food safety, high and low temperature resistance, environmental compliance and production efficiency are the core requirements. CPET (crystalline copolymer polyethylene terephthalate) thermoformed plastic sheet, with its superior performance, is becoming an ideal choice for airline meal boxes.
Five core advantages of CPET
King of high temperature resistance
It can withstand 230℃ and directly enter the aircraft oven for heating without deformation (ordinary PET is only 70℃).
Crystallinity>30%, stable molecular structure, no harmful substances released after heating.
Super strong impact resistance
In high altitude and low pressure environment, the box body still maintains rigidity to avoid squeezing and deformation of food.
Drop test: free fall from a height of 3 meters does not break (far exceeding PP meal boxes).
Lightweight champion
The density is only 1.38g/cm³, 60% lighter than glass containers with the same capacity, reducing fuel costs.
100% recyclable
In line with the international aviation emission reduction trend (such as IATA 2050 net zero emission target), it can be used in textiles, packaging and other fields after recycling.
High appearance + sealing
Surface finish> 90°, improving the display effect of food.
Ultrasonic edge pressing technology, better sealing than aluminum foil box, zero soup leakage.
CPET lunch box application case
Singapore Airlines customized special-shaped CPET lunch box, microwave heating in 3 minutes
Lufthansa uses CPET lunch boxes on all routes, reducing carbon emissions by 800 tons per year
Air China’s economy class hot food is fully upgraded to CPET partition lunch boxes
Precise adaptation of thermoforming process
CPET sheets use thermoforming technology to achieve the complex structure of airline lunch boxes:
Sheet heating: infrared heating to 180℃ softening.
Mold forming: high-pressure blister forming into trays/partition boxes within 5 seconds.
Quick cooling: water circulation cooling and shaping, accuracy ±0.1mm.
Process advantages:
Can produce any thickness of 0.3-1.5mm to meet the needs of different dishes.
Thickness selection:
Main lunch box: 0.8-1.2mm
Dessert cup: 0.4-0.6mm
Surface treatment: anti-fog coating (to avoid water vapor blur after heating).
Performance comparison of CPET vs other materials
| Property | CPET | PP | Aluminum Foil | Pulp Molded Fiber | PS (Polystyrene) |
| Heat Resistance | ★★★★★ (230°C) | ★★☆☆☆ (100°C) | ★★★★★ (250°C) | ★☆☆☆☆ (80°C) | ★★☆☆☆ (90°C) |
| Impact Strength | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ (dents) | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Weight (Density) | 1.38 g/cm³ | 0.9 g/cm³ | 2.7 g/cm³ | 0.6-1.2 g/cm³ | 1.05 g/cm³ |
| Cost Efficiency | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Recyclability | ★★★★★ (100%) | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ (Biodegradable) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Oxygen Barrier | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Moisture Barrier | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Clarity/Appearance | ★★★★☆ (Clear) | ★★★☆☆ (Hazy) | N/A (Opaque) | ★☆☆☆☆ (Opaque) | ★★★★☆ (Clear) |
| Environmental Impact | ★★★★☆ (Recyclable) | ★★☆☆☆ (Low recycle rate) | ★★★☆☆ (Energy-intensive) | ★★★★★ (Compostable) | ★☆☆☆☆ (Non-recyclable) |
The future choice for sustainable aviation
Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show that:
The global aviation industry consumes more than 5 billion disposable lunch boxes per year, and replacing traditional plastics with CPET can reduce carbon emissions by 30%.
Air France has launched a closed-loop recycling plan for CPET, from old lunch boxes to recycled fibers to aircraft seat fabrics.
