Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct vs Earth 12oz PLA Hinged Deli Container: which is safer?

Matter Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

Matter Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct

Matter

Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct

PFAS grade

Excellent 100/100

Overall grade

Excellent 92/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Plant-based fiber pulp (compostable)

Confidence

82%

PossibleMicrobe/mold growth if stored damp

PossibleCellulose degradation under repeated hot/wet stress

Karat Earth 12oz PLA Hinged Deli Container

Karat

Earth 12oz PLA Hinged Deli Container

PFAS grade

Good 70/100

Overall grade

Good 58/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastic, hinged container

Confidence

72%

PossibleMicroplastics from material degradation

PossibleLeaching from unknown coatings or release agents

PossibleFood contact surface degradation and hinge failure

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Microbe/mold growth if stored damp and Cellulose degradation under repeated hot/wet stress on the Matter and not on the Karat.
  • We flag Microplastics from material degradation, Leaching from unknown coatings or release agents and Food contact surface degradation and hinge failure on the Karat and not on the Matter.
  • The Matter is Plant-based fiber pulp (compostable) where the Karat is PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastic, hinged container, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 30 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Matter is the one to buy.

Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More food packaging, see the full ranking