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 safe swap
Eco-Products
Eco Products WorldView Compostable Take-Out Containers EP-SCRC32
95/100 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
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.
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.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
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.
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 are generally safer than plastic clamshells (no BPA/phthalate leaching risk) and compete with ceramic, glass, and aluminum as low-toxicity alternatives. 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 we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% 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
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Coating degradation under heat and moisture
Limited concern
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✓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.