The Best Non-Toxic Food Packaging of 2026
128 of the 186 food packaging products PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 68.8% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 58 that pass. The highest graded is Matter Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct at 100 out of 100.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Is food packaging non-toxic?
58 of the 186 food packaging products we graded clear our screen and 128 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on food packaging products in this category are microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, formaldehyde, artificial dyes, BPA and bisphenols. The highest graded here is Matter Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct at 100 out of 100.
Quick picks
Best overall
Matter Compostable Food Storage Container 5ctHighest PFAS grade in the category
100 Excellent
No coating to fail
Bagasse Hinged Container 3-Compartment, PFAS Free 200pcNothing applied that can break down
95 Excellent
Third-party certified
Eco-Products Eco Products WorldView Compostable Take-Out Containers EP-SCRC32Carries a certification from an outside body
100 Excellent
Why Matter Compostable Food Storage Container wins, and what it beats
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 3 products it beats, so you can see exactly where the 75 points between the top and the bottom of this food packaging ranking come from.
The winner
Made of Plant-based fiber pulp (compostable).
- +25Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
- -30Third-party PFAS-free verification. A third party reports verifying this product as PFAS-free.
What the grade does not fix. Nothing specific to this product adds risk, so what remains is the category baseline that every product here starts from, and our graders recorded 2 other hazards on it. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. The winner earns -30 points for Third-party PFAS-free verification. We found nothing comparable published for this product.
Made of Bagasse (sugarcane fiber pulp), uncoated or minimal coating.
- +25Category baseline
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS
- -10Brand-stated PFAS-free. The brand states this product is PFAS-free. We have not verified the claim.
5risk points, a grade of 95
What puts it behind. No PFAS disclosure, +15 points. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Bagasse (sugarcane fiber), uncoated.
- +25Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS
30risk points, a grade of 70
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Plant-based compostable resin (likely PLA or PBAT blend) with unknown moisture/grease barrier coating.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +25Category baseline
- +15Vague safety claims only. Uses vague language ("eco-friendly", "clean") without a specific PFAS statement.
75risk points, a grade of 25
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in food packaging
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 186 food packaging products in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
Found on 5 of these food packaging products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 112 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
Found on 1 of these food packaging products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 7 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 19 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NCI
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 8 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- BPA and bisphenols
Chemicals that harden plastic and line metal cans, and the replacements sold as BPA-free.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 7 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NIEHS
The safest food packaging we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Third-party verified
- Plant-based fiber pulp (compostable)
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Microbe/mold growth if stored damp
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 2
Third-party verified
Eco-Products
Eco Products WorldView Compostable Take-Out Containers EP-SCRC32
100ExcellentPFAS grade✓ BPI Certified Compostable- Plant-based fiber (compostable sugarcane bagasse)
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Bleaching agents and processing residues
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 3
Third-party verified
Eco-Products
WorldView Sugarcane Take-Out Containers
100ExcellentPFAS grade✓ BPI Certified Compostable- Sugarcane bagasse (post-consumer fiber)
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Cellulose fiber degradation and food contact
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 4
Third-party verified
Eco-Products
12 oz. World Art Compostable Food Containers 25-ct. pack
100ExcellentPFAS grade✓ BPI Certified Compostable- Plant-based bioplastic (PLA and cellulose fiber blend)
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Microplastic shedding or degradation at use temperature
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 5
Third-party verified
- Plant-based fiber (sugarcane bagasse microflute); water-based coatings
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Mold and microbial growth on untreated fiber
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 6
Third-party verified
- PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastic
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Microplastics
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 7
No coating to fail
- Bagasse (sugarcane fiber pulp), uncoated or minimal coating
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Coating leachables (if applied)
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 8
No coating to fail
- bagasse (sugarcane fiber), uncoated
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Mold and microbial growth
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Questions people ask about food packaging
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Every food packaging that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk.
| # | Food Packaging | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matter Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct | 100 | Excellent | Plant-based fiber pulp (compostable) | Microbe/mold growth if stored damp |
| 2 | Eco-Products Eco Products WorldView Compostable Take-Out Containers EP-SCRC32 | 100 | Excellent | Plant-based fiber (compostable sugarcane bagasse) | Bleaching agents and processing residues |
| 3 | Eco-Products WorldView Sugarcane Take-Out Containers | 100 | Excellent | Sugarcane bagasse (post-consumer fiber) | Cellulose fiber degradation and food contact |
| 4 | Eco-Products 12 oz. World Art Compostable Food Containers 25-ct. pack | 100 | Excellent | Plant-based bioplastic (PLA and cellulose fiber blend) | Microplastic shedding or degradation at use temperature |
| 5 | Vegware Compostable Microflute Takeaway Box | 100 | Excellent | Plant-based fiber (sugarcane bagasse microflute); water-based coatings | Mold and microbial growth on untreated fiber |
| 6 | Karat Earth Eco-Friendly PLA Round Deli Container | 100 | Excellent | PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastic | Microplastics |
| 7 | Bagasse Hinged Container 3-Compartment, PFAS Free 200pc | 95 | Excellent | Bagasse (sugarcane fiber pulp), uncoated or minimal coating | Coating leachables (if applied) |
| 8 | Karat Earth Pfas Free Compostable Bagasse Hinged Containers | 95 | Excellent | bagasse (sugarcane fiber), uncoated | Mold and microbial growth |
The verdict on food packaging
Matter Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct grades 100 out of 100, the highest here. It is plant-based fiber pulp (compostable). A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free.
Choose Eco-Products Eco Products WorldView Compostable Take-Out Containers EP-SCRC32 instead if you want a second option at 100 out of 100, plant-based fiber (compostable sugarcane bagasse).
If an outside certification matters more to you than the grade, that is Eco-Products Eco Products WorldView Compostable Take-Out Containers EP-SCRC32.
We hold no price data, so nothing here is a budget recommendation. Grades are model-based assessments from published materials and disclosures, not laboratory tests.
The food packaging we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 25Generic Microwave Popcorn Bag (generic)Poor
BPA & bisphenols
- 25Poor
- 25ECO-Takeout Single Entree Food Container EC-08 (Jade)Poor
Coating leachables (unidentified water-repellent treatment)
What we check on food packaging
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The food packaging brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 37 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Aluf Plastics, Avant Grub, Bagasse, Bambu, BioPac, Chinet, ClearBags, Compostable Coffee, Dart Container, Dtocs, Earth's Natural Alternative, Earth-to-Go.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in food packaging
Is food packaging PFAS free?
128 of the 186 food packaging products PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 68.8% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 58 that pass. The highest graded is Matter Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct at 100 out of 100. The lowest graded is Generic Microwave Popcorn Bag (generic) at 25 out of 100.
Is food packaging non-toxic?
58 of the 186 food packaging products we graded clear our screen and 128 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on food packaging products in this category are microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, formaldehyde, artificial dyes, BPA and bisphenols. The highest graded here is Matter Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct at 100 out of 100.
What is the safest food packaging to buy?
On our grades, Matter Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct at 100 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Eco-Products Eco Products WorldView Compostable Take-Out Containers EP-SCRC32 at 100. The one here carrying an outside certification is Eco-Products Eco Products WorldView Compostable Take-Out Containers EP-SCRC32. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which food packaging grades best for PFAS?
Matter Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct, at 100 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is plant-based fiber pulp (compostable). The runner up is Eco-Products Eco Products WorldView Compostable Take-Out Containers EP-SCRC32 at 100.
Which food packaging should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Generic Microwave Popcorn Bag (generic) at 25, McDonald's Food Wrapper at 25, ECO-Takeout Single Entree Food Container EC-08 (Jade) at 25. The problem with the first is that high PFAS concern due to common PFAS-based water and grease barriers.
Which food packaging brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 37 of the brands we scored in this category, including Aluf Plastics, Avant Grub, Bagasse, Bambu, BioPac, Chinet. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test food packaging?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
More food and water categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to food packaging.
- Best non-toxic water filters507 graded
- Best non-toxic smart rings256 graded
- Best non-toxic lunch boxes175 graded
- Best non-toxic waterproof camera cases150 graded
- Best non-toxic disposable food containers65 graded
- Best non-toxic deli meat packaging59 graded
- Best non-toxic waterproof sports undergarments52 graded
- Best non-toxic whole-house filters18 graded
Get the graded list, free.
The products we score each week, and the best-graded alternative in every category.
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Does a particular brand of food packaging have PFAS?
We also wrote this up at length. Could 2024 Be the Year Congress Finally Bans PFAS in Food Packaging?
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 186 food packaging.