Clamshell packaging has long been used for food, consumer goods and electronics due to its secure product enclosure. However, traditional plastic clamshells are difficult to recycle and contribute to waste. Innovators are developing more eco-friendly clamshell alternatives using renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable materials.
Molded Fiber Clamshells
Molded fiber utilizes recycled paper fibers compressed into durable molded containers via water and heat. Companies like Eco-Products and BioBag Americas produce molded fiber clamshells providing protection comparable to plastic versions. These clamshells are lightweight, renewable and fully compostable at end-of-life.
Advances in fiber treatment, molding techniques and formulations boost strength, printability and moisture resistance of molded fiber. Various thicknesses and lining options suit diverse product types from produce to electronics accessories.
Bagasse Clamshells
Bagasse refers to sugarcane fiber residue which can be molded into containers. Bagasse clamshells leverage agricultural byproduct waste at competitive costs. Producers like Brightway use proprietary processing methods to yield rigid, recyclable bagasse packs matching plastic performance.
Bagasse clamshells exhibit oil and grease resistance for food applications while retaining breathability. Antimicrobial additives provide freshness. Being plant-derived, they fully biodegradable packaging boxes without environmental harm.
Recyclable PET Clamshells
For durability demanding applications, #1 PET plastic remains prevalent given robust infrastructure recycling this resin. Eco-Packaging focuses on maximizing recycled content in clear PET thermoforming sheets used for lid and tray manufacture. Detailed design avoids incompatible materials.
Labels indicate PET chemistry for streamlined consumer sorting and closure features like post-attached hinges eliminate non-recyclable glues. Scaled production further reduces associated carbon footprint versus conventional plastic shells.
Bioplastic Clamshells
Bioplastic resins like PLA (polylactic acid) and PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) derived from plant-monomers provide renewable alternatives to fossil-fuel based plastics. Compostable and marine degradable variants exist.
Companies like TIPA experiment with advanced sheet forming techniques adapting these biomaterials into high performance thermoformable biodegradable packaging boxes. Pilot programs investigate compostable PLA or PHA clamshell viability industry-wide across produce, bakery and other perishables aisles.
Paperboard Clamshells
Entirely paper-based shells fabricated through die-cutting and folding avoid plastic completely. Companies like Papier-Mettler develop custom shell sizes ensuring tight tolerances for tamper evidence and product protection. They utilize renewable, FSC certified paperboard.
Functional printing and a thin polymer barrier improve wet strength and grease resistance. Dependent on application, full recyclability or compostability may require secondary fiber or molded inner components.
Bamboo Fiber Clamshells
Naturalbamboo offers rapidly renewing fibers which can potentially replace plastic or paperboard in thermoformed bamboo fiber clamshells. US firm Bamboobiotics thermoforms sheets achieving strength matching PET yet containing no synthetic additives.
Through advancing fiber treatments, refining and manufacturing techniques bamboo clamshells show promise scaled commercialization given abundant renewable supply, properties and affordability to switch from fossil-fuels.
Customizable, Reusable Biodegradable Packaging Boxes Options
Reusapack focuses on returnable systems integrating customizable reusable plastic or bamboo/PLA clamshells collected, washed and redistributed many times over for retailers and distributors.
Standardized sizing and rapid component reconfiguration supports circular business models keeping materials perpetually in use through intensive cleaning and multiple lifecycles.