Photos: Green packaging eliminates 'wrap rage'

More companies are using clamshells built to be opened with bare hands. The top package in this picture features two snaps that enable it to be resealed. The package beneath it can be opened by bending a corner. Other designs feature perforations that allow the plastic to be punched and torn.

Until the past several years, most oyster packs were made with PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which is commonly believed to be toxic. Many vendors and retailers -- including Microsoft and Apple -- are using PET (polyethylene terephthalate) instead. However, scientists are finding that ingredients in PET also harm human health and pollute ecosystems. Some designers are using recycled or plant-based plastics as well as recycled paperboard as alternatives to clamshells.

Credit: Elsa Wenzel/CNET Networks