How to Start an Egg Tray Business (Step-by-Step Guide 2026)

2026-04-24 11:30:15

With the growing demand for sustainable packaging, starting an egg tray business has become a profitable and eco-friendly opportunity. Molded pulp egg trays are widely used in agriculture, supermarkets, and logistics due to their low cost and recyclability.

If you are planning to enter this industry, this step-by-step egg tray business plan will guide you through everything—from raw materials to machine selection and ROI.

1. Market Research: Is the Egg Tray Business Profitable?

Before investing, you need to evaluate your local market:

Poultry farm density

Egg consumption demand

Availability of waste paper

Competition level

Why it's profitable:

Stable demand (daily consumption product)

Low raw material cost (waste paper)

High repeat orders

6–12 months.

2. Raw Materials for Egg Tray Production

The main raw materials are:

Waste paper (newspaper, cartons)

Water

Additives (optional for strength & waterproofing)

This makes the business low-cost and environmentally friendly.

3. egg tray manufacturing Process

The production process includes:

Step 1: Pulping

Waste paper is mixed with water and processed into pulp.

Step 2: Forming

The pulp is molded into egg trays using a forming machine.

Step 3: Drying

Trays are dried using:

Natural drying (low investment)

Brick kiln dryer

Metal drying line (high efficiency)

Step 4: Stacking & Packing

Finished trays are automatically stacked for delivery.

4. Choosing the Right egg tray Machine

Selecting the right equipment is critical for your egg tray business plan.

Small Scale (Startup)

Capacity: 1000–2000 pcs/hour

Ideal for beginners

Low investment

Medium Scale

Capacity: 3000–5000 pcs/hour

Semi-automatic or fully automatic

Large Scale

Capacity: 6000+ pcs/hour

Fully automatic production line

Continuous metal drying system

Key factors:

Automation level

Energy consumption

Labor cost

Local electricity availability

5. Investment Cost Breakdown

Typical investment includes:

Tip: Start small, then scale up based on market demand.

6. Profit Analysis

Revenue depends on:

Production capacity

Selling price per tray

Raw material cost

Example:

Output: 3000 trays/hour

24 hours/day = 72,000 trays

Profit per tray: $0.02

Daily profit ≈ $1440

 Monthly profit ≈ $43,200+

7. Space & Labor Requirements

Workshop: 800–1000 m²

Workers: 3–6 people

Water & electricity supply required

8. Common Challenges (and Solutions)

Problem: High moisture after forming

Solution: Improve drying system

Problem: Poor tray strength

Solution: Adjust pulp ratio

Problem: High labor cost

Solution: Upgrade to automatic system

9. How to Scale Your Egg Tray Business

Once stable, you can expand into:

Egg cartons

Fruit trays

Industrial packaging

This increases profit margins significantly.

Start Your Egg Tray Business Today

Starting an egg tray business is one of the easiest ways to enter the eco-packaging industry with low risk and stable returns.

If you are looking for a reliable egg tray machine supplier, choosing the right partner is critical for your success.

Get Your Customized Egg Tray Business Plan

At Hunan Shuanghuan fiber molding machinery Co., Ltd., we provide:

• Complete egg tray production line solutions

• Customized machine configurations

• Installation & training support

• ROI-based business planning

Contact us today to get:

• Machine quotation

• Layout design

• Free consultation