If You’ve Ever Wondered Why Pizzas Always Arrive In Square Boxes, It’s Because This Type Of Packaging Is Simply Easier And Cheaper To Produce
After your pizza gets delivered to your door, you’re probably too busy chowing down on the delicious slices to think about the box it came in. And you’re not alone in this, either. Most people usually care more about what’s inside a box rather than the box itself.
But if you stop chewing for a minute to ponder your pizza’s container, it might dawn on you how curious it is that these cheesy delights are packed into square boxes, despite their circular nature.
So, why don’t pizzas arrive in round cardboard boxes instead? Read on to uncover the fascinating reasons behind the square design of pizza boxes and how they came to be a staple in the pizza industry.
The answer as to why square boxes remain the preferred choice for the delivery of pizzas is really quite simple.
It’s because cardboard boxes are typically manufactured with edges, so they can be assembled from one sheet of cardboard and neatly stacked away in corners. This makes square boxes easier and less expensive to produce.
The only advantage that a round pizza box provides would be purely for aesthetic purposes. Over the years, some companies have tried to make round pizza boxes mainstream.
In 2004, a man named John Harvey created the Presseal, a round pizza box that he believed trapped grease better than regular boxes.
It was also supposed to prevent the pizza from sliding around. However, he struggled to find manufacturers that saw the product as an actual solution.
In 2010, Apple filed a patent for a round pizza container meant for personal pies. The container is thin and features eight ventilation holes to release excess moisture and prevent pizzas from getting too soggy. It’s used by Apple employees at the company’s food courts.
Maksim Shebeko – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
Additionally, Domino’s has toyed around with the conventional pizza box shape. The chain has a six-sided design with tapered front edges. Its aim is to reduce cardboard usage and decrease the company’s carbon footprint.
Overall, square boxes have persisted as the standard method for carrying pizzas. The design choice offers efficiency when it comes to stacking, storage, production, and transportation.
So, the next time you enjoy a mouthwatering slice of pizza, you can appreciate the engineering behind the box’s square shape.
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