Fiber Clamshell Containers Built for Real Foodservice Throughput
This is a working-kitchen container, not a marketing prop. compostable fiber clamshell containers ship in B2B case quantities, reheat in the microwave without warping, freeze without embrittling, and hold hot food up to 200°F. They replace foam in school cafeterias, replace PE-coated paperboard in catering, and replace PFAS-treated fiber in any operation under California, New York, or Washington food-packaging law.
The 9.0 × 6.0 × 3.0 in profile and case-sized capacity fit single-portion entrées, sides, salads, parfaits, and school-lunch components. The case of 500 is sized for catering, school dining, hospital foodservice, hotel banquets, and operators transitioning out of foam.
Operators who switch to this SKU
- Bakery and deli grab-and-go — single-material recovery for compost-stream sorting.
- School and university foodservice — compostable end-to-end with no plastic or wax to separate.
- Cold and ambient menu items — fresh fruit, parfaits, salads without dressing, bakery and grab-and-go.
- Dry-to-mildly-moist hot menu items — school lunch entrées, sandwiches, baked dishes, fries, pastries — the dense fiber holds without soaking.
- Catering with single-component plating — appetizers, sides, simple entrées.
- Operators on home-composting back-of-house — OK compost HOME certified for backyard or commercial composting.
Operator pain points this product solves
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. 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.
3. 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.
4. Multi-state compliance complexity
Operators running locations across 6+ states cannot stock a different SKU per jurisdiction. This product clears the strictest of the state PFAS and biobased food-packaging rules currently in force, so a single SKU works in California, New York, Washington, and any state that follows.
5. 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.
What sets this product apart
- 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 200°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 500 — 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.
Third-party certifications carried by this product
- 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.
- NSF Certified Compostable (NSF International) — independent third-party verification of compostability claims.
Specifications
| Outer dimensions | 9.0 × 6.0 × 3.0 in (22.9 × 15.2 × 7.6 cm) |
|---|---|
| Material | Plant fiber |
| Color | Natural Fiber |
| Heat tolerance | Up to 200°F |
| Microwave / freezer | Both safe |
| PFAS status | No added PFAS |
| Compost timeframe | 2–4 months (commercial); ≤12 months (home) |
| Quantity per case | 500 |
| Cases per pallet | 32 (16,000 units per pallet) |
| Case weight | 36.3 lbs |
| SKU | SYR-FCS-500 |
Questions operators ask before switching
What is the composting timeline for these fiber clamshell containers?
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.
Are these fiber clamshell containers really PFAS-free?
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.
Do these fiber clamshell containers qualify for school district biobased and PFAS-free procurement requirements?
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 big is the fiber clamshell container — will it fit in a standard takeout bag?
Outer dimensions are 9.0 × 6.0 × 3.0 in (22.9 × 15.2 × 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.
Do these meet California AB 1200 and New York PFAS food packaging regulations?
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.
Do you sell matching lids for these fiber clamshell containers?
Three lid options typically fit foodservice containers in this size range: clear PLA dome lids for visible merchandising of salads, parfaits, and bakery; clear PLA flat lids for stackable delivery; and matching plant-fiber lids for opaque, plant-based compostable closure. Lids are sold separately by the case — pair by capacity and footprint.
Does this fiber clamshell container hold up under saucy or steaming hot dishes?
Yes. The body is rated for hot food up to 200°F. Hot pastas, curries, soups (with a lid), stews, and baked entrées hold without warping.
Can I microwave food in the fiber clamshell container?
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 case and pallet configuration for these fiber clamshell containers?
Yes. They stack tightly when empty (500 per case, 32 cases per pallet for 16,000 units per pallet) and stack safely with a lid when filled. The footprint fits standard foodservice slots and delivery bags.
