BioPlus TERRA #1 Natural Kraft Compostable Paper Takeout Box – 4.375 x 3.5 x 2.5
Lower concern for kraft base; coating composition remains opaque.
Natural kraft paper is a lower-risk base material, but the brand hasn't disclosed what water or grease-resistant coating is used inside. Many compostable food boxes apply undisclosed fluorine-based treatments without third-party verification.
The safe swap
Eco-Products
Eco-Products WorldView Renewable Sugarcane Containers 16 oz
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Natural kraft paper, compostable coating (unspecified)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
Coating leaching (unknown formulation)
Biotrem does not disclose the chemical identity of the compostable coating. Under heat or with fatty/acidic foods, undisclosed polymers or additives could leach into food, but no specific incidents are reported for this brand.
Microplastics
If the coating is a synthetic polymer marketed as 'compostable,' it may shed particles during use or if exposed to hot conditions; home composting may not fully break it down, leaving residue.
Source: EPA ↗What’s reassuring
BPA & bisphenols
No evidence Biotrem uses BPA or phthalate plasticizers in this product; however, the opacity of the coating formula means this cannot be ruled out definitively without independent testing.
Source: FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Kraft paper production typically avoids formaldehyde, and compostable coatings are usually formaldehyde-free by design. No reports of formaldehyde content in BioPlus TERRA boxes.
Source: ATSDR ↗Allergen transfer from coating solvents or residues
Compostable coatings may contain trace solvents from manufacturing; Biotrem provides no allergen or sensitivity guidance, and no adverse reports exist on record.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
BioPlus TERRA boxes are natural kraft paper (unbleached or minimally processed cellulose) with an undisclosed compostable coating to provide grease and moisture barriers. Kraft paper itself is low-hazard and widely used for food contact, but the coating formulation is the critical unknown. Biotrem does not publicly specify whether this coating contains wax, plant-based polymers, or other additives, making independent risk assessment incomplete. The coating's thermal and chemical stability under realistic use (hot foods, acidic items, oils) cannot be verified from available information.
The brand's record and disclosure
Biotrem markets sustainability and compostability but provides minimal chemical transparency about coating ingredients or third-party safety certifications on product pages. No public statements found addressing PFAS avoidance or testing results for this line. The company holds compostability certifications (likely EN 13432 or equivalent) but these focus on degradation, not food-contact safety or chemical leaching. No recalls or health controversies are on record for this specific product.
How it compares in its category
Kraft takeout boxes occupy a middle ground: safer than polystyrene or PET plastics (which have documented leaching risks), but less transparent than molded fiber or uncoated paperboard alternatives. Most compostable paper boxes include either food-grade wax or synthetic polymer coatings; Biotrem's silence on composition makes direct comparison difficult. Competing brands (e.g., World Centric, Footprint) typically disclose coating type and provide FDA Food Contact Substance compliance statements that Biotrem does not prominently advertise.
If you buy it
Use for room-temperature or warm (not hot-oil-saturated) foods; coating durability at high temperatures is unverified. Avoid prolonged contact with acidic foods (tomato-based, citrus) which may weaken unknown polymer coatings. Do not microwave; heat can degrade compostable coatings and potentially mobilize coating components into food. Home compost at 50+ degrees Celsius if certified; standard curbside composting may not reach sufficient temperatures, leaving microplastics of coating material.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 62% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Biotrem has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Food Packaging
World Centric
Compostable Fiber Compost-A-Pak Containers
Fiber-based (wood pulp/molded fiber), compostable coating
Proprietary coating chemical migration
Limited concern
Moisture and microbial growth in fiber matrix
Limited concern
Coating degradation under heat or fatty foods
Moderate concern
Recycling contamination if misdisposed
Limited concern
Lower concern with documented PFAS-free commitments, though independent lab confirmation on this specific product absent.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Vegware
Compostable Microflute Takeaway Box
Plant-based fiber (sugarcane bagasse microflute); water-based coatings
Coating degradation under heat and moisture
Limited concern
Lower concern; plant-based compostable packaging with stated PFAS-free positioning and limited independent verification.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Loliware
Compostable Hinged Deli Containers
Polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic, plant-based coatings
PLA oligomer leaching
Limited concern
Microplastic generation on degradation
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern; compostable bioplastic design avoids fluorine coatings.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
More food packaging grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.