Kraft PLA Lined Compostable #1 Take-Out Container 4.6" x 3.5" x 2.5"- (200/Case)
Lower concern, but ask the manufacturer about the grease-barrier coating first.
PLA-lined compostable containers are inherently lower risk than Teflon-family coating-coated packaging. Kraft paper liners often get water and grease-resistant coatings whose PFAS content the brand doesn't reveal.
The safe swap
Earthwise
Earth-to-go Earth Bowl EB-32
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
PLA (polylactic acid) with kraft paper liner
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.
PFAS
Kraft-lined food containers commonly use fluorinated compounds for water and oil repellency. Compose has not publicly disclosed the specific coating chemistry, making this a known gap requiring manufacturer inquiry before use with high-fat foods.
Source: ATSDR ↗Thermal instability and leaching at elevated temperatures
PLA softens above 50-60°C and is not microwave-safe. Using these containers for hot foods or heating could alter the polymer and degrade the kraft liner, potentially releasing coating or substrate compounds into food.
What’s reassuring
Microplastics
PLA is stable at room temperature and mild pH ranges typical of fresh food, but no specific migration testing data for Compose's product is publicly available. Risk is low under normal use but increases if containers are reused or exposed to prolonged storage.
Source: EPA ↗Kraft paper adhesives and sizing chemicals
Industrial kraft liners may be glued or chemically treated for structural integrity. Compose does not disclose adhesive or sizing chemistry; risk is low for food contact but remains undocumented for this specific product.
BPA & bisphenols
PLA-based containers do not inherently contain BPA or conventional phthalates. No evidence suggests Compose uses these compounds in this product line, but independent certification is absent.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This container is PLA (polylactic acid), a plant-derived plastic made from corn or sugarcane, lined with kraft paper for structural integrity and grease resistance. PLA itself does not contain BPA, phthalates, or traditional plasticizers, making it chemically safer than polystyrene or conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for food contact. However, the grease-barrier coating on the kraft liner is the unknown variable; many commercial food containers use fluorinated compounds (PFOA, PFOS, or their replacements) to achieve water and oil resistance, which is why manufacturer disclosure is critical here.
The brand's record and disclosure
Compose markets these containers as compostable and environmentally focused, which aligns with PLA's end-of-life benefits in industrial composting facilities. However, the brand has not published independent safety testing data or certifications (such as FDA food-contact compliance statements) readily available in public sources for this specific product line. The silent stance on PFAS coating chemistry is a transparency gap; responsible compostable-packaging manufacturers typically disclose whether grease barriers use fluorinated compounds or safer alternatives like silicone or wax-based coatings.
How it compares in its category
Compostable PLA containers occupy a middle ground: they avoid legacy hazards like BPA and phthalates found in conventional plastics, but introduce uncertainty around coating chemistry that petroleum-based rigid plastics sometimes disclose more openly. Uncoated cardboard containers eliminate coating risk but fail with wet or oily foods. Traditional polystyrene foam and rigid PET both have clearer (though not always safer) coating documentation and longer market history for safety review.
If you buy it
Contact Compose directly and request documentation of the grease-barrier coating material before using these containers for fatty foods (meats, pastries, oily sauces). Store unopened cases in a cool, dry place; PLA degrades slightly in high heat or sunlight. Use containers only for room-temperature to warm foods (not microwaveable; PLA softens above 50-60°C). Replace if the kraft liner shows visible wear, tearing, or discoloration, as coating integrity may degrade and allow food contact with untested substrate layers.
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
- Compose 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.