Restaurantware · Food Packaging
Restaurantware Bio #8 Box Take Out Container 45 oz
Lower concern; fiber likely avoids PFAS, but grease treatment is unspecified.
This molded fiber container likely uses sugarcane or similar plant pulp, which itself poses lower PFAS risk than plastic. The interior grease-resistant coating remains undisclosed with no brand PFAS claim or certification.
The better-graded swap
Eco-Products
Eco-Products 12 oz. World Art Compostable Food Containers 25-ct. pack
100/100 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
Molded fiber (plant-based, grease-resistant coating presumed)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Restaurantware Bio #8 Box Out Container is made of, ingredients and materials
This container is molded fiber, a compressed plant-based material (typically recycled paper pulp or virgin wood fiber) formed into rigid shape. The grease resistance comes from a coating applied post-manufacture, which Biotrem does not publicly specify in composition. Molded fiber itself does not leach BPA, phthalates, or microplastics under normal food storage; however, the coating's chemistry (whether wax-based, resin-based, or synthetic) determines actual food-contact safety, and this is the material unknown in Biotrem's public documentation.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Unspecified food-contact coating composition
Biotrem does not publicly disclose the chemical identity of the grease-resistant coating. If wax-based, risk is low; if synthetic resin or fluorochemical-based, migration of coating components into fatty or acidic foods is plausible under heat or prolonged contact. No test data from the brand are available to rule this out.
Coating degradation and leaching
Molded fiber coating adhesion and durability under microwave, dishwasher, or prolonged moisture exposure is not specified. Degraded coatings may shed particles or release binders into food. This hazard is material-class typical for unverified coatings.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Some molded fiber is bonded with formaldehyde-releasing resins. Biotrem does not confirm whether their fiber matrix is glued with formaldehyde-free binders. Food-contact migration of formaldehyde from the substrate is unlikely if bonding is internal, but confirmation is absent.
Source, ATSDR ↗Lack of food-contact certification
This product is not listed on the FDA's food-contact substance inventory or marked with third-party food-contact certification (NSF, BPI). This is a regulatory transparency gap, not proof of harm, but it indicates Biotrem has not sought or disclosed independent verification of safety.
What’s reassuring
Microplastic or fiber shedding
Molded fiber containers do not shed synthetic microplastics by design. Shed of food-grade paper fibers into wet or acidic food is theoretically possible if coating or structure fails, but this is not a documented or reported risk for intact Restaurantware containers.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Biotrem markets sustainability and compostability but does not publish detailed food-contact safety data, coating ingredients, or third-party certification (e.g., FDA food-contact substance listing, NSF, or compostability standard compliance testing) on their website or product labels. No major recalls or regulatory actions against Biotrem molded fiber products are on record. The brand's silence on coating specifics is a transparency gap in an otherwise credible eco-packaging niche.
How it compares in its category
Molded fiber containers have lower concern for BPA and phthalate leaching compared to plastic clamshells, and compete with ceramic, glass, and aluminum as options with lower chemical concern. Compared to standard polystyrene or polyethylene terephthalate takeout boxes, this product avoids synthetic polymer hazards. However, unlike leading compostable container brands (e.g., those certified to BPI or OK compost standards), Biotrem does not publicly commit to independently verified food-contact coatings, creating ambiguity versus competitors.
If you buy it
Do not microwave or expose to prolonged heat above 160, 180 degrees Fahrenheit; coating integrity under heat is unknown. Avoid prolonged contact with acidic or oily foods if the container will sit for more than a few hours, as coating degradation pathways are not disclosed. Use for cold or room-temperature foods and short-term storage (same-day) when possible. Replace if you notice coating cracking, peeling, or discoloration, as these signs indicate potential leaching of coating residues into food.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Restaurantware has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Restaurantware Bio #8 Box Take Out Container 45 oz?
- 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.
Eco-Products
Eco Products WorldView Compostable Take-Out Containers EP-SCRC32
- 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.
Eco-Products
WorldView Sugarcane Take-Out Containers
- 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.
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.