Whether you have a quick-service restaurant, hotel, fast-food restaurant, retail store, grocery store, or any other food service establishment, clamshell containers are among the most versatile food packaging supplies on the market.
At Servous, we offer a full array of different types, shapes, and forms of clamshell containers for hot or cold food.
Common Types of Clamshell Containers
Common types of clamshell containers include:
- Paperboard clamshell packaging and containers
- Plant fiber clamshell packaging materials
- Cornstarch PLA clamshell products
- Sugarcane bagasse clamshell packaging and containers
- Styrofoam clamshell containers and packaging
Because of the array of different sustainable clamshell packaging, choosing the best types of containers can be tricky. Fortunately, the team at Servous can help.
Our experienced product specialists will match the unique needs of your company and application to the best type of clamshell packaging. Let’s take a closer look at clamshell containers. And for a tailored solution, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at Servous.
Are Clamshell Containers Right for Your Business?
The answer to this question for most businesses is “Yes.” Due to the ability to store and transport cold food as well as hot food, clamshell containers are the go-to solution for many hospitality facilities.
Clamshell Container Applications
Clamshell containers can be used to package a range of items for sale in your restaurant or foodservice establishment, such as:
- Salads
- BBQ Ribs
- Burgers
- Bread
- Pies
- Sandwiches
- Side items
- And more
You can find clamshell containers in a vast expanse of sizes and colors. A few key benefits of clamshell packaging include being easy to source, economical, resealable, and lightweight.
However, clamshell containers are not effective at housing liquids and may be difficult to recycle. The latter consideration is solely based on the packaging material. In addition, clamshell containers are usually not used to ship foods.
Servous offers a wide range of different types of clamshell packaging solutions. Whether you want easily disposable clamshell containers, packaging made from biodegradable plant fiber, products made from cornstarch PLA, or any other type, Servous will match you to the best solution. Now, let’s check out some of the most frequently requested types of clamshell products.
Paperboard Clamshell Packaging May Meet Your Needs
Regularly used for hot applications and hot food orders, paperboard clamshell containers have similar shapes and parts as the traditional PET containers. The main difference is that paperboard clamshell packaging works better for hotter food and is made from paperboard.
Recycled Paperboard Clamshell Containers
One increasingly popular variant of paperboard clamshell containers are recycled paperboard clamshells. As the name suggests, these types of clamshell containers are manufactured from recycled materials.
Recycled paperboard clamshell containers can be a great option or choice for businesses that serve more eco-friendly customers. It can also be a great choice for businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
However, before you decide to change over to recycled paperboard clamshell containers to improve your brand image, it’s important to understand that they are not as “green” as plant fiber products.
This is because once people use these containers and stain them with sauce, grease, or other contaminants, they are not able to be recycled.
Polystyrene Clamshell Products
When any foodservice establishment is getting started, polystyrene clamshell containers are almost certain to make the list of essential products. Polystyrene clamshell containers can be used for thousands of hot or cold food applications.
For several years, polystyrene clamshell containers were the premier solution. This is primarily due to the fact that they were the only option available. Even though they are still in high request as dinnerware, demand has decreased over the years.
However, most people are surprised to learn that polystyrene is recyclable. In either case, you can choose from hundreds of types of styrofoam clamshell containers to meet your unique needs.
Benefits of Foam Clamshell Containers
Polystyrene foam packaging offers a plethora of admirable qualities and attributes, such as:
- Easily resist moisture
- Provides excellent thermal insulation for hot foods
- Lightweight and offers excellent portability
- Can be recycled to limit waste
- Enhanced durability and strength
- Very cost-effective
- Available in different sizes and shapes
- High-shock absorbency and resistance to compressions
Eco-Friendly, Plant-Fiber Types of Clamshell Container Product
One of the most emerging types of clamshell products are plant-fiber-based, eco-friendly solutions. While effective at storing leftovers and carry out, these types of clamshell containers are not clear, so they may not be ideal for displaying food.
They do, however, offer the excellent ability to house hot food as well as cold food. In general, there are two different major types of eco-friendly clamshell containers used primarily for the purpose of housing hot and cold carryout food.
- Sugarcane bagasse clamshell packaging
- Cornstarch PLA cornstarch packaging
Benefits of Sustainable Food Packaging
Regardless of whether you opt for bagasse or cornstarch PLA plant fiber products, they share a few admirable qualities:
- Plant-fiber clamshell trays are soak proof
- Versatile enough for prepared or raw meats
- Highly resistant to moisture and grease
- Can resist flexibility and are sturdy
- Requires no wax lining or plastic lining
- Is microwave safe and freezable, which means it’s used for cold and hot items.
- Available in white and natural color
- Completely compostable and biodegradable.
Our plant fiber-based clamshell containers are the preferred solution for any restaurant or foodservice establishment looking to reduce its carbon footprint. These products are not only easily disposable but are compostable and can be effortlessly recycled.
Natural Sugarcane Bagasse Clamshell Containers
Safe, natural, and extremely renewable, bagasse is made from a plant fiber waste product left from the processing of sugarcane. This plant fiber can also be the waste product of the processing of sorghum or agave. No matter the source, bagasse is one of the most eco-friendly materials on the planet.
Sugarcane is remarkably abundant and a highly renewable resource because it can regrow in as little as 10 months. This makes bagasse clamshell containers a greener alternative to paper and wood.
Benefits of Bagasse Food Packaging Solutions
A few key benefits of bagasse include:
- 100% Biodegradable
- 100% Compostable
- 100% Recyclable
- Toxin and Chemical Free
- 100% Natural and Carbon Neutral
Cornstarch PLA Clamshell Packaging
As a safe, durable, and eco-friendly viable plastic alternative, cornstarch packaging is plant-based and created from cornstarch polymers. Specifically, it’s produced using polylactic acid (PLA) plastics, which are created through the fermentation process of starch and plant sugar.
Boasting the most desirable attribute of popular plastics, cornstarch PLA plastics are the more environmentally friendly solution for your company.
Cornstarch sugars are the most cost-effective and cheapest commercially available sugars, which makes the production of cornstarch clamshell containers extremely environmentally friendly. This is one of the reasons why a growing number of customers are requesting clamshell containers.
Benefits of Cornstarch Packaging
Unlike traditional plastic, cornstarch PLA clamshell containers are:
- 100% Biodegradable
- 100% Compostable
- 100% Recyclable
- Toxin and Chemical Free
- 100% Natural and Carbon Neutral
Contact Servous for Wholesale Clamshell Packaging
When it comes to choosing clamshell containers for use in your business, you have no shortage of options. In fact, there is an expansive list of great clamshell containers in an array of sizes to choose from.
However, the team at Servous can simplify your search. At Servous, we offer personalized guidance and service to help expedite your search and ensure you choose the best option.
We are proud to be one of the leading providers of different clamshell containers for supermarkets, retailers, convenience stores, quick-service restaurants, and every other type of foodservice establishment.
Contact Servous today for readily available clamshell containers.
