Melamine trays for table service, buffets and events
Melamine trays are the workhorse of front-of-house service: light enough to carry all day, rigid enough to hold a full meal, and tough enough for daily washing. Direct Eco Green supplies them in several sizes and shapes for the following uses:
- Table and counter service in restaurants, cafés and bars.
- Cafeterias and staff canteens, where trays are stacked and reused many times a day.
- Buffets, room service and catering, for presenting and carrying dishes.
- Outdoor events and take-out counters, where glass or wood trays would be impractical.
The trays stack for compact storage and resist shocks and scratches, so they keep a clean appearance through daily service.
Specifications & factory formats
| Format | Material | Size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serving tray | Melamine resin | 380 mm (15.0 in) | Table service, café counters, room service |
| Large serving tray | Melamine resin | 400 mm (15.7 in) | Cafeterias, buffets, full meal service |
| Custom tray | Melamine resin | Size and shape on request | Branded trays, specific dispensers or carts |
The quote confirms length, width and edge height for each reference.
Materials, durability and end of life
Direct Eco Green melamine trays are made from a synthetic resin blend, mainly melamine, which gives them resistance to heat, water, impacts and scratches.
Melamine is a thermoset resin: once molded it cannot be melted down again, which is why it lasts so long in service and also why its end-of-life options are limited. Be precise when you market it:
- Reusable, not disposable — the environmental benefit comes from replacing hundreds of single-use items over the product's service life.
- Not compostable — do not use "compostable" or "biodegradable" for melamine.
- Not for the microwave — melamine should not be used to heat food in a microwave oven.
- Recycling — melamine is not accepted in most curbside recycling programs, so avoid "recyclable" claims and the chasing-arrows symbol, which California SB 343 restricts.
Compliance for the US and Canada
Request the factory's FDA food-contact compliance letter (21 CFR Part 177 covers polymers used in food contact) with your quote; this is factory documentation for your file, not an FDA approval. In Canada, the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SOR/2022-138) target single-use foodservice ware made from problematic plastics, and the Federal Court of Appeal confirmed on January 30, 2026 that the rules remain in force. Melamine serving trays sit outside that scope when they are designed and marketed for repeated use — position them that way in your listings and avoid black items colored with carbon black. Under the FTC Green Guides, keep environmental claims specific: "reusable" and "dishwasher-safe" can be supported, vague unqualified green claims cannot.
Custom colors and logo trays
Direct Eco Green produces melamine trays in standard colors or in your brand colors, with your logo, for restaurant chains, hotel groups, corporate canteens and venues that want branded service ware. Custom sizes can be developed to fit your carts, racks or tray dispensers. Order the trays alongside melamine plates or stainless steel trays in one consolidated shipment; samples are available before mass production.
Why buy melamine trays factory-direct from Direct Eco Green
Direct Eco Green is a manufacturer and sourcing partner, not a distributor: it produces melamine serving trays through selected and audited partner factories in Asia and Europe, runs quality control on site from its base in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and consolidates several product lines into one shipment. For high-volume and wholesale buyers this means a lower total cost of ownership than re-sold stock, products built to your specification, and one contact from artwork to delivery.
- Pick the references in the catalog.
- Send your quantities, sizes, colors and artwork.
- Receive a tailored quote within 48 hours.
- Validate, approve the design, then production, shipping and delivery.
Request your quote through the contact form. Explore all our reusable foodservice ware.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes are Direct Eco Green melamine trays available in?
Melamine trays are listed in 380 mm (15.0 in) and 400 mm (15.7 in), and custom sizes and shapes can be produced on request. Your quote confirms the exact length, width and edge height of each tray.
Are melamine trays stackable?
Yes. Melamine trays are designed to stack for compact storage behind the counter, in cafeterias and on catering carts. Their light weight also makes them easy to carry in piles between the dish room and the line.
Can melamine trays be put in the microwave?
No. Melamine trays should not be used in a microwave oven. They are made for carrying and presenting food, then washing and reusing.
Can I order melamine trays with my logo?
Yes. Direct Eco Green produces custom-printed and custom-colored melamine trays for restaurant chains, hotels and corporate canteens. The MOQ depends on size, color and decoration and is stated in the quote.
Are melamine trays recyclable?
Melamine trays are not accepted in most curbside recycling programs, because melamine is a thermoset resin that cannot be remelted. The sustainability benefit of a melamine tray is its long service life, so market it as reusable rather than recyclable.
