ECOLipak Clamshell Take Out Food Containers Disposable To Go Containers,To Go Boxes for Food Salad
Skip until coating source is disclosed, fiber containers often use PFAS barriers.
ECOLipak fiber clamshells lack public disclosure about coating composition or PFAS content. Grease-resistant fiber packaging historically relied on long-chain PFAS, though reformulations now exist.
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
Fiber-based clamshell with unspecified water/grease-resistant coating
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
Fiber clamshells typically require synthetic fluorinated barriers for grease resistance; Footprint's undisclosed coating chemistry and lack of PFAS-free certification make presence probable, though unconfirmed.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating migration into fatty/hot foods
Applied polymer barriers on fiber are prone to breakdown under heat, acidity, and lipid contact; migration of coating oligomers or additives into food is documented as a category-wide concern, though specific quantitation for this product is unavailable.
Microplastics
Synthetic polymer coatings can shed particles over time, especially with mechanical stress or repeated use; molded-fiber containers typically are single-use, limiting this risk, but if reused, degradation becomes a concern.
Source: EPA ↗Bacterial or mold growth on stored containers
Fiber substrates are hygroscopic and can support microbial colonization if stored in damp conditions; this is a handling and storage issue rather than a manufacturing hazard, but relevant for food safety if containers are reused or stored improperly.
What’s reassuring
BPA & bisphenols
No public reports of BPA/BPS in Footprint fiber containers specifically. Fiber-based coatings typically use polyester or acrylic resins rather than epoxy (the primary BPA source), so this hazard is less likely than in plastic-lined alternatives, but coating formulation is not disclosed.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
ECOLipak clamshells are molded fiber (typically recycled paper pulp) with an applied water and grease-resistant barrier coating. Fiber substrates themselves are low-hazard, but the coating formulation is critical: most commercial food-contact fiber packaging uses synthetic polymeric or wax-based barriers, many historically containing PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") as the most effective grease repellent. Without disclosure of the specific coating chemistry, the actual exposure risk cannot be assessed.
The brand's record and disclosure
Footprint markets itself as a sustainability-focused alternative to plastic clamshells but has not publicly disclosed coating formulations, PFAS-free certifications, or third-party testing for their fiber containers. No established recalls or regulatory warnings specific to this product exist on record. The brand's silence on coating sourcing is consistent with limited transparency in the molded-fiber industry, where coating suppliers often guard proprietary formulas and regulatory pressure on PFAS in food contact is still developing.
How it compares in its category
Fiber clamshells occupy a middle ground: they avoid the direct polymer contamination risk of polystyrene or PET clamshells, but their grease-barrier coatings introduce a distinct chemical concern. Most major food-service alternatives (polypropylene, molded cardboard, glass) either have better disclosure practices or use simpler, lower-PFAS-risk coatings. Some competitors (notably some European fiber suppliers) have voluntarily committed to PFAS-free barriers, making Footprint's non-disclosure a relative weakness.
If you buy it
Avoid using these containers for hot, oily, or acidic foods, as heat and lipids can accelerate migration of coating additives into food. Do not microwave. Store dry and use within reasonable shelf life to minimize potential leachate accumulation. Monitor Footprint's public disclosures for coating transparency; if the brand later confirms PFAS-free certification, reassess. For frequent food takeout use, prioritize containers from suppliers with published PFAS-free or fluorine-free coating commitments.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- 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
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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.