The Story
The natural wood that elevates a plate
Balsa wood gives food a warm, premium stage. Its natural grain makes a catered plate, sushi boat or pastry box look as good as it tastes. It's light, elegant and surprisingly capable.
Most "wooden" serveware relies on a plastic lining for water resistance. Ours doesn't. Where a barrier is needed, we use a plastic-free glassine liner that composts along with the wood, allowing the whole piece to return to nature.
How It's Made
From sustainable log to finished piece
Responsibly sourced
Debarked
Heat & steam conditioned
Precision peeled
Formed
Glassine-lined where needed
Cut, molded & finished
Cleaned, QC'd & packed
SEE IT MADE
Inside the workshop
Plastic-free by design
Glassine-lined
A plastic-free glassine paper liner gives grease & moisture resistance on baking molds and lined boxes.
Compostable · Plastic-freeUncoated wood
Boats, cones, plates and grazing boxes use bare natural wood, nothing added.
CompostableBio-coating (planned)
A water-based plant bio-barrier is planned for select items needing extra waterproofing.
ComingEnd of life: The wood and glassine are compostable. A few items ship with a clear PET lid, which is recyclable, not compostable. Each product is clearly labelled.
Why It Works
Why buyers choose balsa wood
FSC & SGS
Premium look
Heat & cold
Plastic-free barrier
Sturdy & light
Returns to nature
CHOOSE WITH CONFIDENCE
What this is best for
Sushi & appetizers
Bakery & pastry
Grazing & catering
Premium takeout & bento
Gifting & events
- Long-term liquid storage for hours
- Deep-frying / oil submersion
- Home composting of PET-lidded items (recycle the lid)
Explore balsa wood by product
Over 150 SKUs across six product families. All currently available to order by quote.
Banking Modals & Trays
Wooden baking moulds and trays, rated from -40°C to +240°C for baking, microwaving and freezing.
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Food Boxes & Bento
Ladder boxes, bento, collapsible & folding lunch boxes with wood or clear lids.
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Pastry & Grazing Boxes
DIY pastry containers, multiform boxes and large grazing/gift boxes.
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Sushi Boats & Cones
Wooden sushi boats and rolled cones for elegant single-serve presentation.
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Round, Oval & Pizza
Round, oval and window boxes plus large round pizza/cake bases with covers.
View range →
Complete the Setting
Frequently bought together
Certifications & standards
USDA BioPreferred
FSC
EU Regulation 1935/ 2004
BPI Compostable
Balsa Wood FAQs
Questions, answered
Balsa Wood is the established industry name for this style of natural wooden tableware. It is light, elegant and used for plates, trays, boats and boxes. This is how the category is known and sold.
Where a product needs grease or moisture resistance, we use a plastic-free glassine liner, a naturally resistant paper that is biodegradable and compostable. Some items are made from uncoated natural wood.
No. Glassine is a plastic-free, uncoated paper (no wax or PE). It's biodegradable and compostable along with the wood.
Many items, especially baking molds and food boxes, are rated for microwaving, baking and freezing (−40°C to +240°C). Check the rating shown on each product to confirm its suitability.
The wood is biodegradable and compostable. Items supplied with a clear PET lid are the exception. The wooden base composts, but the PET lid is recyclable rather than compostable and is clearly labelled.
Yes, FSC-certified timber, SGS tested, and any adhesive used is food-grade.
Yes, OEM custom sizes and printing are available on most items.
GO DEEPER
Learn more
SUSTAINABILITY
Glassine & End-of-Life
How our plastic-free liner works and how to dispose of each item.
Explore sustainability →See it. Feel it. Then stock it.
Order a $10 sample kit to test balsa wood in your hands, or get wholesale pricing for your business.