Karat Earth Natural Bagasse Take Out Container
Lower concern; bagasse is uncoated plant fiber with no known PFAS risk.
Bagasse food containers are made from uncoated sugarcane fiber, an inherently lower-concern material without intentional chemical coatings. No PFAS disclosure found, but bare plant fiber typically poses minimal PFAS risk.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Bagasse (sugarcane fiber pulp)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Karat Earth Natural Bagasse Out Container is made of, ingredients and materials
Karat Earth containers are molded from bagasse, the fibrous residue left after sugarcane juice extraction. This is a plant-based pulp material with no synthetic polymers, plasticizers, or vinyl chloride. Bagasse is pressed and formed into shape without the need for BPA, BPS, phthalates, or other endocrine disruptors common in plastic food packaging. The material itself is compostable under industrial conditions.
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.
Microplastics
Bagasse is a loose pulp matrix held together by minimal binder. In hot, wet, or oily conditions, fibers may separate or shed into food; no published testing on this product line is available to quantify frequency or particle size.
Source, EPA ↗Heavy metals
Sugarcane is grown with agrochemicals; bagasse pulp retains some crop-origin material. No mandatory testing or disclosure by Karat on residual pesticides (e.g., glyphosate) or soil-derived heavy metals (cadmium, lead) in the finished product is on record.
Source, FDA ↗Mold or bacterial growth if stored moist
Bagasse is organic plant fiber and absorbs moisture. If containers are not dried after washing or stored in humid conditions, microbial growth is possible before use; ensure dry storage in cool, ventilated areas.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Coating or adhesive composition
Karat does not disclose binder chemistry (starch-based or other). No known use of Teflon-type coating, silicones, or FDA-banned adhesives has been reported; however, independent verification is not publicly available.
BPA & bisphenols
Bagasse is plant fiber and does not use synthetic polymer chemistry typical of polycarbonate or polyvinyl chloride; these hazards are not applicable to this material class.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Karat (owned by Footprint) markets this line as compostable and environmentally focused. Public disclosure on chemical safety is limited; the brand does not advertise third-party testing for leaching or residual pesticides from sugarcane cultivation. No significant recalls or legal actions on record for this product line. Certifications typically include compostability (BPI, EN 13432) but not FDA food-contact testing disclosure.
How it compares in its category
Bagasse containers avoid the primary hazards of polystyrene foam and PET plastics (leaching, microplastics). They also sidestep Teflon-type coating and ceramic coatings used in some disposable food service ware. Versus coated paperboard, bagasse has no fluorinated or wax barriers to concern over. The tradeoff is structural integrity at high heat and moisture, and lack of transparency into agricultural residues (pesticides, heavy metals in soil).
If you buy it
Use these containers for room-temperature and mild-warm foods; avoid prolonged contact with oils or acidic liquids at high heat, as fiber degradation can accelerate. Do not microwave or use in conventional ovens; fiber will soften and may shed particles into food. Replace containers if you notice discoloration, warping, or visible separation of fibers. Compost according to local industrial composting programs; home composting may be too cool to break down the binder within a reasonable timeframe.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Karat has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Karat Earth Natural Bagasse Take Out Container?
- 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.