What Materials Are Best for Plastic Fruit Trays

Walk into any grocery store, café, or catered event, and you’ll see food-grade plastic fruit trays with lids everywhere. They hold fresh berries for morning smoothies, cut melons for a picnic, and mixed fruits for office snacks. But have you ever stopped to wonder what material makes the best one? If you’re a restaurant buyer, a supermarket procurement manager, or even a parent looking for safe containers for your kids’ lunches, this question matters more than you might think. The right material doesn’t just keep fruit fresh—it’s safe to use, durable enough for transport, and fits your budget. As a manufacturer of disposable plastic tableware, we’ve spent years testing and perfecting these trays, so let’s break down the best materials for food-grade plastic fruit trays with lids, what makes them stand out, and how to pick the right one for your needs.

The Top 4 Materials for Food-Grade Plastic Fruit Trays with Lids

Not all food-grade plastics are created equal. Some are better for keeping fruit fresh, others for durability, and some for affordability. Here are the four most common materials used in disposable food-grade plastic fruit trays with lids, along with their pros, cons, and best uses.

1. PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) – The Go-To for Clarity and Freshness

If you’ve ever picked up a pre-packaged fruit tray from the grocery store, chances are it’s made of PET plastic. You’ll recognize it by the recycling symbol “1” on the bottom. PET is one of the most popular materials for food-safe plastic fruit containers with lids, and for good reason: it’s crystal clear. That clarity is a big win for retailers because it lets customers see the fresh fruit inside—no one wants to buy a tray of mystery berries. But PET isn’t just pretty; it’s practical too.

PET is lightweight but surprisingly strong, so it can hold heavier fruits like apples or pineapples without bending or breaking. It’s also resistant to moisture, which is key for keeping fruit from getting soggy. We’ve had supermarket clients tell us that their PET fruit trays have a 20% longer shelf life for cut fruit compared to trays made of other materials, thanks to how well the lids seal and the plastic keeps out excess moisture. Another plus? PET is recyclable in most areas, which is a big selling point for eco-conscious customers and businesses.

The only real downside of PET is that it’s not great for high heat. You shouldn’t put a PET tray in the microwave or leave it in a hot car for hours—though since these are usually for cold fruit, that’s rarely an issue. For most retail and catering uses, PET is the gold standard. At www.jhpkg.com, our best-selling fruit tray is made of PET because it checks all the boxes: safe, clear, durable, and affordable.

2. PP (Polypropylene) – The Durable Workhorse

If you need a tray that can handle a little more wear and tear—like for catering events or takeout orders—PP plastic (recycling symbol “5”) is your best bet. PP is known for its durability and heat resistance, which makes it more versatile than PET. Unlike PET, PP can handle temperatures up to 220°F (104°C), so if someone wants to warm up a fruit compote in the tray (though we still recommend transferring hot food to a microwave-safe dish for best results), it won’t melt.

PP is also more flexible than PET, which means it’s less likely to crack if you drop it or stack a few trays on top of each other. We had a catering client who used to complain about PET trays breaking during transport—after switching to our PP fruit trays, their breakage rate dropped to almost zero. That’s a big savings in time and money for businesses that need to move trays around often.

The trade-off with PP is that it’s not as clear as PET. It has a slightly milky appearance, which means the fruit inside isn’t as visible. That’s why PP is better for catering or takeout, where function matters more than shelf appeal, rather than retail displays. PP is also recyclable, though the recycling process is a bit more complex than PET, so not all areas accept it. Still, for reliable plastic fruit tray materials that can handle heavy use, PP is hard to beat.

3. PS (Polystyrene) – The Affordable Option

PS plastic (recycling symbol “6”), also known as styrofoam when it’s expanded, is another common material for disposable food-grade plastic trays. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is lightweight and super affordable, which makes it a popular choice for budget-conscious businesses like convenience stores or small cafes.

EPS has great insulation properties, so it keeps fruit cold longer than PET or PP. That’s a plus for outdoor events or food trucks that don’t have constant access to refrigeration. We once supplied PS fruit trays to a food truck at a music festival, and they reported that their cut fruit stayed fresh for 4 hours in the sun—something that would have been impossible with a thinner PET tray.

But EPS has some big drawbacks. First, it’s not as durable as PET or PP. It can crack easily if it’s dropped, and the lids don’t always seal as tightly, which can lead to moisture getting in. Second, it’s not recyclable in most areas because it’s bulky and hard to process. That’s a problem for businesses that want to be eco-friendly, as many customers now avoid styrofoam products. Finally, EPS isn’t heat-resistant at all—even a warm car can cause it to warp. For these reasons, we only recommend EPS if you’re on a tight budget and don’t need the tray for retail display or heavy transport.

4. PLA (Polylactic Acid) – The Eco-Friendly Alternative

If sustainability is a top priority for your business, PLA plastic is worth considering. PLA is a biodegradable plastic made from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane, so it breaks down in industrial compost facilities in 3-6 months. That’s a huge advantage over traditional plastics, which can take hundreds of years to decompose.

PLA is food-grade safe and has a clear appearance similar to PET, so it works well for retail displays. We’ve seen more and more grocery stores switch to PLA fruit trays as consumers demand greener options. Our PLA trays at www.jhpkg.com are especially popular with organic food stores and farm-to-table restaurants that want to match their eco-friendly brand with their packaging.

The main downsides of PLA are cost and durability. PLA is more expensive than PET or PP—usually 20-30% more. It’s also not as strong as traditional plastics, so it’s better for lighter fruits like berries or grapes, not heavy items like melons. PLA also has strict temperature limits: it starts to melt at around 140°F (60°C), so it can’t be exposed to heat. And while it’s biodegradable, it only breaks down in industrial compost facilities—if it ends up in a regular landfill, it won’t decompose any faster than traditional plastic. Still, for businesses that want to reduce their environmental impact, PLA is a great option.

How to Pick the Right Material for Your Needs

With so many options, it can be hard to decide which material is best for your food-grade plastic fruit tray with lid. To make it easier, here’s a quick list of questions to ask yourself, along with our recommendations based on your answers:

• Will the tray be displayed in a store? Go with PET—its clarity will make your fruit look fresh and appealing.
• Will the tray be transported often (e.g., catering, takeout)? Choose PP—it’s durable and won’t crack easily.
• Is budget your top concern? EPS is the cheapest, but keep in mind its durability and recycling limitations.
• Do you need an eco-friendly option? PLA is the way to go, but make sure your customers have access to compost facilities.
• Will the tray hold heavy fruits (e.g., melons, apples)? Stick with PET or PP—EPS and PLA are too weak for heavy loads.

Another tip: Always ask your supplier for a sample before buying in bulk. At www.jhpkg.com, we send free samples of our PET, PP, and PLA fruit trays so you can test them with your specific fruit and use case. It’s the best way to make sure you’re getting a product that works for you.

Our Final Thoughts: The Best Material for Most Businesses

After years of working with restaurants, supermarkets, and caterers, we’ve found that PET plastic is the best all-around material for food-grade plastic fruit trays with lids. It’s clear enough for retail displays, durable enough for most uses, safe for food contact, recyclable, and affordable. It checks every box for most businesses, which is why it’s our top seller.

That said, there are times when other materials make sense. If you’re catering a wedding and need trays that can handle transport, PP is better. If you’re an organic farm stand looking to go green, PLA is a great choice. And if you’re a convenience store on a tight budget, EPS can work for simple fruit cups.

No matter which material you choose, the most important thing is to make sure it’s food-grade certified. Your customers trust you to serve safe, fresh food, and the tray you use is a big part of that. If you’re not sure which material is right for your business, or if you want to see samples of our food-grade plastic fruit trays with lids, head over to www.jhpkg.com. We’re here to help you find the perfect packaging for your fruit—one that keeps it fresh, safe, and appealing to your customers.