Plant-Fiber Fiber Clamshell Containers — Why the Material Matters
Sugarcane bagasse is the agricultural by-product left over after juice extraction — burning it pollutes, landfilling it wastes biomass, but molding it into food packaging captures that material as a renewable input. That is the body of these fiber clamshell containers. There is no plastic film, no wax coating, and no PFAS — the unbleached fiber itself is dense enough to resist oil and grease, and to compost cleanly as a single material. The result is a foodservice container that does not compromise on heat, structure, or end-of-life recovery.
Standard capacity in a 9.25 × 8.0 × 3.0 in footprint — designed to hold an entrée portion, a sandwich plus garnish, a saucy side, or a parfait. Cases of 300 stack tightly in the back of house and travel cleanly in delivery bags.
Where this container earns its place on the line
- Catering and event foodservice — single-portion service for boxed lunches, banquet plating, or buffet line setup.
- Meal-prep and ready-meal brands — freezer safe; meal-prep ready.
- K-12 cafeterias and university dining — meets PFAS-free procurement requirements many state school systems now mandate.
- Quick-service restaurants and cafes — single-portion entrées, sides, salads, fruit cups, parfaits.
- Hospital and senior-living foodservice — microwave-safe so kitchen staff can plate, deliver, and reheat in the same container.
- Hotels and corporate dining — clean visual presentation for breakfast assemblies, mid-meeting service, lunch buffets.
Five problems this SKU is engineered against
1. Plastic-in-the-microwave concerns
Foodservice teams reheating prepared meals don’t want plastic film against hot food. This container is microwave-safe at reheat temperatures and has no film at all in the food path.
2. Compost contamination at the back of house
Single-material recovery — fully compostable with no plastic film, no wax, and no PFAS to separate from the fiber.
3. Grease resistance without synthetic coatings
Unbleached plant fiber is naturally oil and grease resistant — the barrier is the fiber itself, not a synthetic coating that fails after 30 minutes on the line.
4. PFAS food-packaging laws tightening every year
California AB 1200, AB 1201, New York’s Hazardous Packaging Act, and parallel laws in Washington, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Hawaii ban intentionally added PFAS in food packaging. These do not contain added PFAS at any stage of manufacture.
5. Procurement asking for documentation
Buyers with sustainability mandates need certificates: USDA Biobased, ASTM D-6400, FDA food contact, NSF Certified Compostable, TÜV AUSTRIA. All applicable certifications are listed below; lab/cert documents are available on request for B2B accounts.
Build, materials, and operator features
- No added PFAS — meets every U.S. state PFAS food-packaging law as of 2026.
- Unbleached plant fiber body — denser than coated paperboard; holds shape under heavy or saucy meals.
- Hot food safe to 220°F — soups, stews, hot pastas, curries, casseroles, baked dishes.
- Microwave safe — reheat directly without transferring; no plastic in the food path.
- Freezer safe — does not embrittle below 0°F; meal-prep ready.
- Oil and grease resistant — barrier is the natural fiber itself, no synthetic coating.
- Composts in 2–4 months in a commercial composting facility, ≤12 months in home compost.
- Case of 300 — sized for catering, school dining, and operator-scale foodservice.
- Gluten-free and allergen-friendly material.
- Unbleached natural fiber color — pairs with any branded sticker, ribbon, or sleeve.
Compliance, compostability, and food-contact certificates
- OK compost HOME (TÜV AUSTRIA) — independently certified to break down in a backyard compost bin within 12 months.
- OK compost INDUSTRIAL (TÜV AUSTRIA) — disintegrates and biodegrades in a commercial composting facility within 12 weeks.
- USDA Certified Biobased Product (U.S. Department of Agriculture) — verified renewable plant content; eligible under federal BioPreferred procurement programs.
- ASTM D-6400 (ASTM International) — meets the U.S. industry standard for industrial compostability.
- FDA Food Contact Compliant (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) — conforms to U.S. Code of Federal Regulations for direct food contact.
Product specifications
| Outer dimensions | 9.25 × 8.0 × 3.0 in (23.5 × 20.3 × 7.6 cm) |
|---|---|
| Material | Plant fiber |
| Color | Natural Fiber |
| Heat tolerance | Up to 220°F |
| Microwave / freezer | Both safe |
| PFAS status | No added PFAS |
| Compost timeframe | 2–4 months (commercial); ≤12 months (home) |
| Quantity per case | 300 |
| Cases per pallet | 16 (4,800 units per pallet) |
| Case weight | 28.0 lbs |
| SKU | SYR-FCS-300 |
Frequently asked questions
Will the fiber clamshell container survive reheating in the microwave on the line?
Yes, the fiber clamshell container is microwave safe at reheat temperatures. Reheat without transferring to another plate. Avoid using in conventional ovens above the rated heat tolerance or under broilers.
What is the maximum hot-food temperature for this fiber clamshell container?
Yes. The body is rated for hot food up to 220°F. Hot pastas, curries, soups (with a lid), stews, and baked entrées hold without warping.
Which state PFAS food-packaging laws do these fiber clamshell containers satisfy?
Yes. Because no PFAS is intentionally added, they comply with California AB 1200 / AB 1201, New York’s Hazardous Packaging Act, and parallel laws in Washington, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Hawaii. Lab test reports are available for B2B accounts on request.
Which menu types work with this 3-compartment configuration?
This fiber clamshell container has 3 compartments — designed for plated foodservice with separated entrée, sides, and a small accompaniment. Typical use cases include school lunch programs (entrée + 2 sides), hospital trayed meals, airline-style catering, and bento-style takeout. Each compartment is sealed-bottom so there is no cross-contamination of dressings or sauces between sections.
How many fiber clamshell containers fit on a pallet?
Yes. They stack tightly when empty (300 per case, 16 cases per pallet for 4,800 units per pallet) and stack safely with a lid when filled. The footprint fits standard foodservice slots and delivery bags.
Can these fiber clamshell containers be used in school cafeterias under sustainable-procurement rules?
Yes. They meet PFAS-free, biobased, and compostable procurement requirements many state school systems now mandate: no added PFAS, double TÜV compostability (HOME and INDUSTRIAL), USDA Biobased, ASTM D-6400, NSF Certified Compostable. Documentation is available on request.
How do I confirm the PFAS-free claim on these fiber clamshell containers?
Yes. No PFAS chemicals are added at any stage of manufacturing. Grease and oil resistance comes from the unbleached plant fiber itself, not from PFAS coatings. They meet PFAS-restriction laws in California, New York, Washington, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Hawaii, and other states banning intentionally-added PFAS in food packaging.
How long does the fiber clamshell container take to compost?
In a commercial composting facility (ASTM D-6400 conditions), it breaks down in 2 to 4 months. In a properly maintained home compost system (TÜV AUSTRIA OK compost HOME), it takes 6 to 12 months depending on temperature, moisture, and turning frequency.
What are the exact dimensions of this fiber clamshell container?
Outer dimensions are 9.25 × 8.0 × 3.0 in (23.5 × 20.3 × 7.6 cm). This footprint fits standard takeout bags, hot bags, delivery cubes, and most foodservice tray slots. Stack height in storage scales linearly with case quantity and shape.
