Paper Noodles Is A More Sustainable Alternative To Current Instant Ramen Packaging

According to the World Instant Noodles Association, over 103 billion servings of instant noodles get consumed annually. It’s not hard to understand why, as it’s a quick, cheap, and versatile snack or meal. 

Unfortunately, for all the convenience of instant ramen, nearly every serving comes wrapped in plastic, whether it's in a styrofoam cup or a plastic bowl. Nearly none of it gets recycled, and it ends up in our oceans or landfills. 

Australian designer Emily Enrica, however, set out to create a more sustainable instant noodle package out of paper with her “Paper Noodle” concept.

The entire package, from the sauce and spice condiments to the bowl and utensils come from 100% biodegradable materials, which are also food-safe and microwavable. The bowl is ergonomically-shaped featuring flared-out rounded ends and comes molded to hold your chopsticks and spoon in place. Plus, it comes wrapped with a nifty, paper belly band. 

While Emily’s Paper Noodles is conceptual, it doesn’t seem so far-fetched as to be impossible to commercialize. As the plastic pollution crisis grows more acute by the day, finding alternatives to plastic packaging for such a universal meal like instant noodles is critical.