As part of its sustainability efforts, Pizza Hut is testing round pizza boxes and plant-based meat pizza toppings at one of its locations in Phoenix, Arizona on October 23rd.
Two years in the making, the round box uses less packaging than its square counterpart. It’s also “industrially compostable,” according to a press release from the restaurant chain. With less room to slide around, the round box keeps pizzas safer during delivery. The top and bottom sections of the box also interlock for easier sealing.
“The box is a win, win – it will improve the pizza-eating experience for our customers and simplify the operating experience for our team members,” Nicolas Burquier, chief customers and operations officer for Pizza Hut, said in the release.
Customers, however, can only get the round box by ordering the new Garden Specialty Pizza, which is topped with Italian sausage called Incogmeato. A collaboration between Pizza Hut and Kellogg, Incogmeato is a plant-based meat substitute that caters to the restaurant’s vegetarian customers. Aside from Incogmeato, the Garden Specialty Pizza is also topped with onions, mushrooms, and banana peppers.
Both the Garden Specialty Pizza and the round box will only be available in-store on October 23rd starting at 11 a.m. at the Pizza Hut location at 3602 E. Thomas Road in Phoenix. The Garden Specialty Pizza costs $10 and all proceeds from the Wednesday sales of the pizza will be donated to Arizona Forward, a Phoenix-based sustainability organization.
If the test turns out to be successful, Pizza Hut will find ways to expand it into other markets.