Fish and chip shops have one of the toughest packaging jobs in UK food service: everything has to survive heat, steam and grease, stay food-safe, and now comply with England's single-use plastics ban — all while still looking like your shop rather than a generic takeaway. Here's what to actually order.
The Rules Have Changed: What the Plastics Ban Means for Chip Shops
Since October 2023, the Environmental Protection (Plastic Plates etc. and Polystyrene Containers etc.) (England) Regulations have banned single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls and certain polystyrene containers for food sold to be eaten on the premises or without further preparation — a rule that hits chip shop serving trays and clamshells directly. If you're still serving on plastic trays "because that's what we've always used," you're now behind both the law and customer expectations. The safe, compliant route is paper and board-based packaging: greaseproof-lined paper, kraft bags and card trays.
Greaseproof Paper: Still the Backbone of a Good Chip Shop
Traditional "chip paper" does a specific job that plastic can't replicate well — it wicks away excess oil, keeps food hot for longer, and doesn't go soggy the way some compostable films do. Our small, medium and large greaseproof paper sheets can be printed with your shop's name and logo, so the same paper that's lining the tray is also doing the job of a sticker and a napkin in one. Prices start from around 5p a sheet for the small size at bulk volumes, which is a genuinely low-cost way to add branding to every single order.
Bags That Can Actually Carry a Portion of Chips
Scrape bags and takeaway bags need to handle weight, heat and a bit of grease without splitting on the walk home. Our brown and white paper grab bags are built for exactly this kind of food use, and printing your shop name and phone number on the bag turns every portion into a walking advert — especially valuable for a trade that relies heavily on repeat, local custom. For bigger family orders or multi-item takeaways, our twisted handle and flat handle paper bags carry more weight and look tidier for customers taking food to a car or bus.
Branding That Survives Steam and Grease
Paper labels and stickers can lift in a steamy takeaway environment, so think about where branding actually needs to survive contact with food versus where it's just sealing a bag. A printed sticker on the outside of a dry bag holds up fine; a sticker on the inside of a tray in direct contact with hot, oily chips will not. Keep branded round or square stickers for sealing bags, boxes and takeaway sides like mushy peas or curry sauce pots, and let the printed greaseproof paper carry the branding that touches the food directly.
Don't Forget the Small Details
A few low-cost additions make a real difference to how premium a chip shop feels: printed napkins for sit-down or collection orders, and branded aprons for staff serving at the counter. A consistent look across bags, paper and staff uniform is what separates a shop customers remember from one that blends into every other takeaway on the high street.
A Simple Compliance and Branding Checklist
- Replace any remaining plastic trays, plates or polystyrene containers with paper or card alternatives
- Use printed greaseproof paper as both food liner and low-cost branding
- Choose grab bags sized and strengthed for hot, oily food rather than generic retail bags
- Keep adhesive stickers on dry surfaces only — bag seals, box lids, side-order pots
- Order early: bag printing typically takes around 5 weeks after artwork approval, so don't leave a packaging switch until you're out of stock
Order Compliant, Branded Chip Shop Packaging
We supply UK fish and chip shops with printed greaseproof paper, grab bags, carrier bags and stickers — all fully compliant with current single-use plastic rules. Get in touch for a quote and we'll help you work out exactly what sizes and quantities suit your menu and footfall.