World Centric Review, Is World Centric Non-Toxic?
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Across 22 graded products, World Centric averages Poor (47/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 8 of its products grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
Does World Centric have PFAS, by category
Worth buying from World Centric Good or better, safest first
World Centric
Compostable Fiber Compost-A-Pak Containers
Fiber-based (wood pulp/molded fiber), compostable coating
Proprietary coating chemical migration
Compostable coatings are not as well-characterized as traditional food-contact polymers.…
Moisture and microbial growth in fiber matrix
Molded fiber is hygroscopic (absorbs water) and can support mold, bacteria, or yeast if…
Coating degradation under heat or fatty foods
Compostable coatings are designed for ambient-temperature food service; hot or high-fat…
Recycling contamination if misdisposed
If these containers enter conventional paper or plastic recycling streams instead of…
Lower concern with documented PFAS-free commitments, though independent lab confirmation on this specific product absent.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
World Centric
11.5 oz Fiber Bowl
Fiber-based (likely plant fiber or sugarcane-derived molded fiber)
Coating degradation and fiber particle shedding
Molded fiber bowls are uncoated or minimally coated. Prolonged wet storage, abrasive…
Bleach residues and chlorine byproducts
If the fiber source is bleached paper or recycled fiber processed with chlorine, residual…
Adhesive or binding agent leaching
Molded fiber bowls often use starch-based or synthetic adhesives to bind fibers and…
Microbial growth if retained moisture
Fiber is porous and absorbs water. If bowls are not dried thoroughly or stored in humid…
Low risk. Molded fiber products typically avoid PFAS, though brand offers no confirmation.
⚠Risky category by default
World Centric
s Compost-A-Pak Container
Molded fiber (recycled paper pulp)
Ink/dye residues from recycled paper pulp
Molded fiber uses post-consumer recycled paper as feedstock, which may contain offset or…
Lower concern since molded fiber unlikely contains PFAS, but no explicit brand disclosure provided.
⚠Risky category by default
World Centric
Fiber Linear Takeout Container
fiber pulp with plant-based coating
Bleaching residues (chlorine compounds, dioxins)
Kraft pulp may be chlorine-bleached; modern processes meet FDA limits, but trace chlorine…
Plant-based coating composition and leaching
The specific formulation of World Centric's plant-based coating is not publicly detailed.…
Grease barrier degradation under moisture and heat
Fiber-based containers with plant-based coatings degrade faster than plastic-coated…
Lower concern and PFAS-free certified, though independent lab confirmation of detection absent.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
Compostable Fiber Round Bowls
Compostable fiber (unbleached plant pulp)
Adhesive or binder residues in molded fiber
Fiber bowls are bonded using starch, natural gums, or synthetic polymers; specific…
Microplastics
Unbleached fiber bowls may shed small fiber fragments into food over time, especially if…
Bacterial or mold growth in stored bowls
Compostable fiber is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture) and porous; if stored in humid…
Low-medium concern. Compostable fiber bowls rarely need PFAS, though no brand confirmation.
⚠Risky category by default
World Centric
Compostable Fiber To Go Box Container
Compostable fiber with plant-based water-resistant coating
Microplastics
When heated above design limits or in microwave, plant-based coatings may fragment into…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Virgin fiber bleaching and some biopolymer resin curing processes may involve…
Safer choice for disposable food service with compostable fiber.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
Round Deli
Fiber-based (molded plant-based) with compostable coating
Microplastics
While the coating is plant-based, mechanical wear and thermal stress can produce fine…
Mold or bacterial growth in storage
Plant-based fibers are inherently susceptible to microbial colonization if stored in…
Lower PFAS concern with transparent PFAS-free commitment from brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
Compostable Takeout Container Pack of 150
Plant fiber (bagasse/sugarcane) with water-based coating
Coating degradation and particle release
Water-based coatings on fiber can break down or flake if heated above ~70C or if wet for…
Microbial growth in fiber matrix
Bagasse is a cellulose-based material prone to mold and bacterial colonization if stored…
Lower concern; compostable plant fiber rarely requires PFAS coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
World Centric
NoTree Folded Takeout Containers
Sugarcane-based fiber (bagasse) with plant-based coating
Coating degradation under heat or acid
Plant-based coatings on bagasse are still emerging formulations; long-term stability and…
Mold or microbial growth in porous fiber
Bagasse is hygroscopic and porous; if stored in humid conditions or if moisture is…
Lower concern with plant-based packaging and stated PFAS-free commitment, though third-party verification unavailable.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
Fiber Containers
Fiber pulp with water/grease-resistant coating
PFAS
Good Start claims PFAS-free formulation, but alternative coating chemistries (silicones…
Degradation of fiber integrity during storage or transport
Fiber pulp and water-resistant coatings can degrade if exposed to high humidity…
Lower-concern option with unverified but credible PFAS-free claim.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
Salad Bowl
Fiber-based molded food container
Microplastics
Molded fiber can shed fine particulates if structurally compromised (water damage…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Molded fiber containers sometimes use urea-formaldehyde or phenol-formaldehyde binders to…
Bacterial or mold growth if stored damp
Fiber-based food containers are hygroscopic and can harbor mold if exposed to humidity or…
Lower risk; PFAS-free claim aligns with fiber-based material choice.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
No Tree Folded Takeout Containers
Bagasse (plant fiber) with unspecified water-resistant coating
Water-resistant coating chemistry (unspecified)
Bagasse naturally requires a water barrier to function as a takeout container. World…
Coating degradation and microparticle release
Repeated contact with hot or acidic foods can degrade any applied water barrier…
Avoid until the manufacturer discloses coating chemistry or provides PFAS-free certification.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
8" x 8" x 3" Compostable Fiber Clamshells
fiber pulp (compostable); grease-resistant coating unknown
Unknown grease-barrier coating chemistry
Compostable fiber packaging typically requires water- and oil-repellent coatings; World…
Coating degradation under heat or prolonged contact
Compostable barrier coatings are engineered to break down in industrial compost, meaning…
Bacterial growth or mold if stored damp
Fiber pulp is hygroscopic and can retain moisture. Clamshells stored in humid conditions…
Avoid until brand discloses coating chemistry, compostable packaging often relies on PFAS grease barriers.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
TR-SC-UAR-LFS, 20 oz Compostable Fiber Take-Out Container (600/Case)
Compostable fiber pulp with grease-resistant coating
Grease-resistant coating composition (unspecified)
Interior coating type not disclosed by manufacturer; if fluorochemical-based, migration…
Coating degradation over time or when heated
Fiber pulp coatings degrade faster than plastic under heat or repeated hydration; visible…
Microplastic-like particles from fiber shedding
Fiber pulp containers can shed microscopic cellulose fragments or coating particles into…
Inadequate composting end-of-life (field disposal)
Certified compostable containers require industrial composting (55-60°C sustained heat)…
Lower-risk compostable option, but coating type unclear and PFAS status not disclosed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
Compostable Paper Folded Containers
Compostable paper with unspecified grease-resistant coating
PFAS
Grease-resistant coating chemistry undisclosed; compostable paper products frequently use…
Microparticles from coating degradation
Repeated use, heating, or mechanical stress may cause coating to flake or delaminate…
Allergen or sensitizer residues in coating
If PFAS or fluorinated resins are present, trace unreacted monomers or oligomers may…
Avoid until brand discloses coating chemistry, compostable paper often relies on PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
32 oz. Compostable Fiber Take-Out Bowl
Fiber (likely bleached pulp) with unspecified grease-resistant coating
Grease-resistant coating composition (unspecified)
Fiber bowl grease-resistant coatings have historically used PFAS; World Centric has not…
Coating degradation and microparticle migration
Over time or when exposed to heat and fatty foods, the coating may flake or shed…
Mineral oil or other hydrocarbons from coating migration
If the coating is wax or mineral-oil-based rather than PFAS, migration into fatty foods…
Medium-high risk. Skip until coating is disclosed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
NoTree Paper #1 Take-Out Container with PLA Window 26oz
Unbleached paperboard with PLA window; grease-resistant coating unspecified
PFAS
Grease-resistant coatings in compostable paperboard containers are well-documented to…
Coating degradation and leaching
PLA window and unknown interior coating may degrade under repeated dishwashing heat…
PLA instability at elevated temperature
PLA windows begin to soften and leach above 140°F (60°C). Hot foods, dishwashers, or…
Microplastic shedding from PLA
Wear, scratching, or heat cycling of the PLA window may generate fine plastic particles.…
Avoid until coating transparency improves; grease-resistant packaging often contains PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
Compostable Fiber Box 30 oz.
Fiber pulp with undisclosed grease/water-resistant coating
PFAS
Fiber food packaging coatings commonly use PFAS, but if this product uses legacy or…
Microplastic or coating particle shedding during use
If the coating is damaged, worn, or incompatible with foods (especially hot or fatty…
Migration of coating additives in acidic or oily foods
Coffee is acidic and may promote leaching of coating monomers or slip agents if the…
Skip until brand reveals coating chemistry; fiber food packaging often uses PFAS-based barriers.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
Compostable NoTree Paper Rectangular Containers
Plant-based paper (NoTree fiber); grease/moisture barrier coating unspecified
PFAS
Unspecified grease barrier on food-contact paper typically contains fluorochemicals or…
Degradation and barrier failure
Plant-based fibers are more moisture-sensitive than plastic; if the coating delaminates…
Ink or printing additives
If containers have printed branding or labels, inks and adhesives may leach into food…
Avoid until the brand details its barrier-coating formula; waterproof paper often contains PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
9x9" Compostable Fiber Linear Takeout Containers
Fiber-based compostable container with unspecified water/grease-resistant coating
PFAS
Coating chemistry unconfirmed by manufacturer. Water/grease-resistant coatings in…
PFAS
If the coating is non-fluorinated, alternative monomers or oligomers used in…
Fiber degradation and particulate migration
Compostable fiber containers can shed microfibers or particulates if coating is…
Avoid until the manufacturer clarifies coating chemistry, compostable does not mean PFAS-free.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
Compostable Fiber Food Trays
Fiber-based tray with grease/moisture-resistant coating (composition unspecified)
PFAS
Fiber-based food trays almost universally use fluorinated or Teflon-family coating…
Unidentified synthetic coating leachables
Even if not PFAS, the undisclosed barrier layer may contain other polymer additives…
Coating degradation over time
Compostable fiber trays break down intentionally in composting, but degradation in normal…
Compostability misrepresentation risk
Trays labeled compostable may not break down in standard municipal composting conditions…
Avoid until PFAS-free status is confirmed in writing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
World Centric
NoTree Paper #3 Take-Out Container
Molded fiber (sugarcane/plant-based) with unspecified water-resistant coating
PFAS
Molded-fiber food containers typically require fluorocarbon or hydrocarbon coatings for…
Coating leaching under heat or fatty foods
Even if the coating is not PFAS-based, unknown coating materials may leach into food when…
Skip until coating transparency improves; grease-resistant food packaging often uses PFAS unless confirmed otherwise.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →