Clamshell containers got their start in 1978 when inventor Thomas Jake Lunsford first patented the design. Today, this kind of packaging is one of the most widely used in the retail world and serves a staggering number of industries.
Most people are already familiar with this kind of packaging. It houses all sorts of goods from electronics to food.
If your company offers consumer products, clamshell packaging will serve your business well. You’re sure to find a use for this highly-adaptive packaging.
Ready to learn more about these unique containers? Read on to learn the five key facts about plastic clamshell containers.
1. Clamshell Containers Boost Sales
If you use clamshell packaging for your products, you’ll see increased customer engagement. A study by Clemson University confirmed that customers’ eyes are drawn to items in clamshell packs more often than any other kind of packaging material.
By peering through transparent plastic packaging, customers can see how unique your product is. They’re also likely to assume it’s of higher quality than products packaged in boxes.
This attention can easily turn into more sales and increased profit for your company. If you currently use boxes or another kind of packaging, making the switch to a clamshell container will be great for your bottom line.
2. Clamshell Containers Are Perfect For Food
The food industry is perhaps the most prominent user of clamshell containers. These containers are ideal for all kinds of food, whether you’re selling produce like fruits and vegetables or freshly-prepared food.
Fresh foods benefit immensely from clamshell containers. Your food products will stay fresher longer thanks to ventilation offered by slits in the plastic. Stores are more likely to stock your goods because they know they can trust your company to provide a quality product that won’t go bad on the sales floor.
Some clamshells can even be treated with substances that reduce the amount of humidity in the container. Humidity causes food products to spoil faster and reducing the amount of it trapped in your packaging material leads to longer shelf life. Desiccant packs can be added to some clamshell containers, as well.
This packaging is also incredibly popular for prepared specialty food items such as sandwiches and wraps and often is used as a take-out container. They’re easy to open and close while preserving the meal’s freshness and allowing the consumer to store leftovers for later use.
3. Clamshell Containers Are Economical
Not only will clamshells help improve your sales numbers, but they can also reduce the cost of packaging your products. Plastic materials are among the cheapest packaging materials. Compared to alternatives like glass or aluminum or paper-based packaging, it represents significant savings.
Even though options like cardboard may be less expensive initially (although not always), you’ll have to contend with other costs. Cardboard is not waterproof and is prone to developing mold, which could spoil an entire shipment. You won’t have to worry about that with a plastic clamshell.
Additionally, transporting cardboard containers or just about any non-plastic material increases your shipping costs because these other materials are far heavier than the plastic materials we use for your custom product packaging. These days, with high fuel prices, shipping is more expensive than ever before, but using plastic can help reduce these high shipping costs.
4. Clamshell Containers Improve Trust In Your Brand
When it comes to edible products, customers also appreciate the ability to look at the food they’re purchasing. They can easily see that your product is fresh and will find the bright colors of your produce enticing.
If you packaged your goods in an opaque box, a customer can’t be sure what state the goods are in until they bring them home. Being transparent allows you to build the trust potential customers have for your product line right there in the store.
It’s also easy to make these containers tamper-proof. This is key for food items but is also important for companies who create medical products and need to ensure that their products are safe to use.
You’ll have several options for making your product tamper-proof. The first is to simply wrap the container in plastic wrap. One would have to break or cut the wrap to get to the product.
Another way to achieve this is by using something called a c-wrap. These are affixed across the seam of the container. It seals the container closed. As an added bonus, you can even print your brand’s logo on it. Another option would be to make use of a safety tab. These tabs have to be removed before the packaging can be opened.
For many retail products, you can seal the clamshell using RF welding or heat sealing or another technique. As you probably have found, opening a sealed clamshell pack can be difficult, which means your product is more likely to remain safe until purchased by a consumer. At Indepak, we can provide you with package fulfillment services, and that includes several different clamshell sealing options.
5. Clamshell Containers Can be Customized
The biggest advantage of using clamshell containers is that they can be customized to your specific needs. You can develop the ideal plastic container for your products.
You’ll meet with the Indepak team and explain what you need for your product. After conceptualizing your perfect plastic container, the project moves on to the thermoforming phase which brings the idea to life. The outcome is one-of-a-kind custom clamshell packaging that fits your product like a glove.
For instance, if you’re looking for take-out containers, you can create custom packaging that features room for an entree and a few sides. You could also opt for one large container with no separation. If you think your customers would like an option, you can have both created.
You can also choose the kind of plastic you use in your containers. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PP (polypropylene) are the most common kinds, but your options are immense. We also can provide you with some highly eco-friendly options, such as using recycled content or perhaps even starch-based bioplastics.
In addition to its use as food packaging and medical packaging, plastic clamshell containers can be a good option for some electronics packaging as well as personal care items and thousands of retail products. Clamshells also are ideal for packaging smaller items. You can get a custom design that houses small hardware accessories or the tiny individual components of a toy.
Custom Clamshell Containers For Your Product
Clamshell containers are a versatile packaging option. They’re typically associated with the food industry, but businesses of all kinds can make use of this kind of container. They can help improve your sales margins, instill trust in your brand, and are customizable to suit the needs of your product. Are you excited to develop your own custom packaging solution? We have more than 50 years of experience working with multiple industries and are always ready to put our expertise to work for you. Reach out to see how you can benefit from using Indepak as your custom packaging manufacturer. In addition to clamshell containers, we can produce custom blister packaging, thermoform trays, plastic tubs and much more.
