Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct vs Sugarcane Clamshell Takeout 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

Sugarcane Clamshell Takeout Container

Sugarcane Clamshell Takeout Container

PFAS grade

Good 70/100

Overall grade

Good 58/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Sugarcane bagasse (fiber pulp)

Confidence

78%

PossibleFiber particle migration into food

PossibleBacterial growth and mold if damp

PossibleHeavy metal or dye contamination in printing/inks

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 .
  • We flag Fiber particle migration into food, Bacterial growth and mold if damp and Heavy metal or dye contamination in printing/inks on the and not on the Matter.
  • The Matter is Plant-based fiber pulp (compostable) where the is Sugarcane bagasse (fiber pulp), 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