I've seen a few videos / articles along these lines (e.g. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/sep/16/berlin-duo-supermarket-no-packaging-food-waste) and it seems a very sensible approach to ending the idea of single use plastic packaging. I think the challenge is in adapting the business models of the corporations who provide the world's most famous brands and the large supermarket chains that sell them so that there is an incentive to provide goods in this way, and to realise the potential on a globally significant scale.

Leaf Republic are doing some interesting work in this area, I originally saw the video at this link on Facebook and it's one of the first things I thought of when I saw this challenge. It would be interesting to think about what applications it has beyond plates (interesting that you mention straws, any particular reason for choosing this example?) in other areas of the plastics economy.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/643319217/beleaf