Why this matters for airlines
Airlines face rising sustainability demands to reduce catering waste, without adding weight or complexity on board. Four pressures usually sit on the same procurement desk at the same time:
- Plastic bans and regulatory scrutiny. The EU SUP Directive, the UK equivalent, and a growing patchwork of national plastic taxes now reach cabin service.
- Weight equals fuel cost. Every gram lifted to cruise altitude burns fuel. Paper tableware is lighter than reusable ceramic or metal, and far lighter than the plastic it replaces.
- Limited storage and loading time. Galley trolleys and cart racks have a fixed footprint. Stackable, thin-walled paper products load and unload faster than bulky alternatives.
- Passenger perception of sustainability. Passengers judge airlines partly on what lands on their tray. A visibly paper service reads as effort, not paperwork.
This is exactly where lightweight, paper single-use tableware outperforms reusable alternatives, and where the Hello Straw range comes in.
Where paper fits in your cabin
Not every plastic item needs the same replacement. A quick map of the service:
- Drinks: Hot, cold and spirits often use three different cups today. One paper cup can now cover all three.
- Cutlery: Economy meal service usually needs a sealed pouch. Premium wants a heavier feel.
- Meal packaging: Hot mains need something oven safe. Cold salads and yogurts need cutlery inside the pack.
- Bar and coffee service: Small items, but the ones passengers hold longest.
- Family cabins: A kids set that is safe and quiet.
A-Cup: One paper cup for every onboard drink
Airlines still carry three cups today: one for coffee, one for cold soft drinks, one plastic tumbler for spirits. Three suppliers, three storage slots, three counts on the trolley, and a plastic tax on the last one.
The A-Cup holds for a full hour of service with no leaks, no collapse and no taste transfer. It is tested with spirits up to 45% ABV for a full hour, and stays cool enough to hold even with a fresh coffee inside.
What makes it work
- Water based coating. No traditional plastic lining. Just 0.6% polymer, and it stays compostable and recyclable.
- 250gsm white paper. Strong, feels good in the hand, and prints well in your brand colours.
- Food safe glue. Cold glue, with nothing that can transfer into the drink.
- Treated seams. The seam is where cups usually leak. This one is sealed.
Available in 4oz, 8oz and 12oz. As a paper product, it stays in the paper recycling stream after service. Seven tons of used cups turn back into the equivalent of one ton of aviation fuel, closing the loop from the tray table back to the fuel tank.
What one cup means for your operation
- One buyer, one order line, one delivery.
- One shelf in the galley, one item to count.
- Minutes to train new crew, not hours.
- No plastic cups on board means no plastic tax on cups either.
Toulouse, 2025: Introducing the A-Cup at ACA
The Airline Catering Association (ACA) Leadership Symposium is one of the biggest events in the airline catering calendar. It brings together the people who actually decide what goes on the tray: catering companies like dnata, Ferrier and SURU Connect, sustainability and procurement leads from major carriers, and the trade press that covers the category.
In 2025, our colleague Florrie introduced the A-Cup on that stage. It was the moment the cup went from a design ambition to a live conversation across the industry.
Fabio Gamba, Chairman of ACA, said in one line what we had been trying to explain for months:
"This cup can save airlines a lot of headache from not using plastic cups, it is a must for airlines." - Fabio Gamba, Chairman of ACA
Cutlery pouch and service sets
The Cutlery Pouch is our best-selling airline product, and it is made from paper rather than plastic. It is where most airlines start because it is a like-for-like switch: same slot on the trolley, same handling for crew, different material.
Pick the combination that suits your service
- 2-in-1 for soups: Spoon and napkin.
- 2-in-1 for salads: Fork and napkin.
- 3-in-1 the basics: Fork, knife and napkin.
- 4-in-1 the essentials: Fork, knife, spoon and napkin.
- 6-in-1 everything: Fork, knife, spoon, napkin, salt and pepper pouches.
- Chopsticks Set: Tailored to every cuisine on your menu.
The cutlery is sturdy, resists oils and liquids, and holds up in hot and cold foods. Fork tips are precise. Spoons are deep enough for soup. The knife is serrated. Cutlery can also be printed or embossed in colour, so premium and economy sets can share the same paper stream while still looking distinct on the tray.
Airlines already flying with the sets include Swiss, Sunclass, Edelweiss and Corendon. Wider branded packs are with Qatar Airways, EgyptAir, American Airlines, British Airways, Air Serbia, ITA Airways, Austrian, Condor, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic, VietJet Air and Transavia, along with UK airline caterers and Dutch carriers. Beyond aviation, KFC Chile and Harrods use the range too.
Paper cutlery next to wood or bamboo
- Paper goes into paper recycling. Wood tends to go to waste.
- Paper uses around 30% less wood than a wooden set.
- No splinters, no taste transfer.
- Deeper spoons and stronger fork tips for real meals.
MAP food boxes and containers
For hot meal service and cold ready-to-eat lines, our MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging) food boxes seal on the edge with foil, which keeps meals fresh across long service windows and standard supermarket shelf life. Inside the box, the lamination is one large piece that lifts out and tears off, so the paper board goes straight into paper recycling after the meal. The same box is oven safe for reheating on board.
- Kraft food boxes and bowls for salads, warm sides and mains.
- Sugarcane meal trays, microwave safe up to 100°C, with at least two hours of guaranteed oil resistance and neat stacking on cart racks.
- Sugarcane sauce cups and cup lids that stay leak-free through turbulence.
Together, the containers, trays and lids give catering partners a full paper and sugarcane meal set from a single supplier, with the box, lid, cutlery and cup all designed to work together.
The cutlery board
A paper lid that sits on a meal box during transit and doubles as the passenger's cutlery. When the meal arrives, the passenger tears off a spoon, knife, fork and either a dessert spoon or a snack pick from the top. Keeps food safe during storage, removes a separate cutlery bag from the tray, and comes in any colour to match your brand. Smaller size for children. Registered design at EUTM.
Paper chopsticks and the noodle spork
For Asian carriers and Asian menus on long haul, paper chopsticks are more recyclable than wood or bamboo and much easier to brand. Already customised for Transavia, Qatar Airways, Sunclass and Korean Air. Chopsticks and holders are registered designs at EUTM and WIPO.
For instant noodle cups, our paper spork replaces the plastic one that used to sit under the lid. Two-piece or ramen spoon options. itsu already uses it for their udon and ramen ranges.
Small paper solutions that finish the meal
Not every item on the tray is a headline product, but each of the small ones changes what your service looks like from the passenger's seat.
- Salad forks: Sized to fit inside salad boxes and ready meal packaging.
- Butter knife: For spreading butter, jam and toppings on breakfast service.
- Cake fork: Precision tip for dessert slices, cheesecake and pastries.
- French fry pick: For tapas, canapés and small plates.
- Paper phone stand: A small giveaway for premium cabins, folded from paper board.
Stirrers, picks and paper straws
Paper stirrers come with printed or embossed logos, in shapes airlines already use, like the little aircraft on Air Canada, United and Transavia service. Paper straws hold up for around 10 hours in a drink, come in 5 to 12mm diameters and 100 to 250mm lengths, and are Coca-Cola authorised.
Certification, in one place
We never compromise on what makes the range trusted in the cabin. From meeting EU food safety regulations to using only non-toxic glues, every product is high quality and fully certified.
- FSC C200325 paper
- EUDR compliant
- BPA
- PFAS
- MOSH and MOAH
- 3-MCPD
- formaldehyde free
Testing runs to nearly 100 reports from accredited laboratories, prepared to German, French, EU and FDA standards, and complying with Chinese, Dutch, Japanese and Italian standards. APCO member since 2024 for Australian standards. Coca-Cola authorised, Lufthansa audited. Marine compostability testing is in progress. Documents on request.
What crew and airlines have told us
Since 2023, pioneering airlines have been using the paper service sets with consistently positive results. Three themes keep coming up:
- Proven performance. Reliable and practical in demanding airline environments.
- Premium quality. Fits a high-quality passenger experience.
- Long-term trust. Customers who adopted in 2023 continue to use it today.
"This is the best paper cup I have ever seen so far." - German airline
"We were very impressed by the quality of your products, they are clearly of a very high level." - Asian airline
How we see our role
"We are not just a supplier. We are the partner helping the aviation industry reduce the footprint of every flight, one meal and one drink at a time."
Frequently Asked Questions
Are paper cups and paper cutlery allowed on flights under EU and UK Single-Use Plastic rules?
Yes. Both are permitted alternatives to plastic. Products made from FSC-certified paper and free of PFAS, BPA and other listed chemicals meet the current EU SUP Directive and the UK equivalent.
Does the A-Cup really go in home compost?
Yes. Paper based, with a water based coating instead of a plastic lining. Only 0.6% polymer and home compostable.
Can the food box be reheated on board?
Yes. The MAP food box is oven safe. The tear-off lamination lifts out after use so the paper board can go into paper recycling.
Which airlines already use Hello Straw paper products?
Swiss, Sunclass, Edelweiss and Corendon fly with our paper service sets. Wider branded packs are with Qatar Airways, EgyptAir, Aeromexico, American Airlines, British Airways, Air Serbia, ITA Airways, Austrian, Condor, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic, VietJet Air and Transavia.
Is paper cutlery better than wooden cutlery on planes?
For most cabin services, yes. Paper goes into paper recycling, uses around 30% less wood, and avoids splinters and taste transfer.
Does the range come with the audit paperwork?
Yes. FSC C200325 certification, EUDR compliance, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000, BRC and BSCI documents are available on request, along with nearly 100 individual test reports.
Can our airline brand the range?
Yes. Free custom-branded samples so you can see your logo and branding before committing to an order.
