Karat Earth Paper Food Containers
Skip until brand discloses waterproof coating chemistry.
Karat Earth containers use coated paper for grease resistance, but the brand does not publicly disclose what waterproof treatment is applied. PFAS-free coating alternatives exist; request certification or ingredient transparency before purchase.
The better-graded swap
World Centric
World Centric Compostable Fiber Compost-A-Pak Containers
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
paper with waterproof coating, type unspecified
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Karat Earth Paper Food Containers is made of, ingredients and materials
Karat Earth Paper Food Containers are paper-based with an applied waterproof coating to prevent grease and moisture penetration. The coating chemistry is not publicly specified by the brand, which is the core concern, waterproofing in food contact paper traditionally relies on either PFAS-based fluorochemicals, wax, or other polymers. Without disclosure, users cannot assess exposure risk. The paper substrate itself is typically inert, but the coating's identity determines actual safety.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
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.
PFAS
Coating identity is not disclosed. If wax or food-grade polymer-based, concern is low; if alternative fluorochemicals or undisclosed synthetics, migration during heating or contact with fats is possible but not documented for this product.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Microplastics
No reports of peeling, flaking, or visible degradation in Karat Earth containers under normal use. Risk depends on coating durability and material, neither fully transparent here.
Source, EPA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Food-contact paper typically avoids formaldehyde-based binders, but no third-party test results for Karat Earth containers are publicly available to confirm.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
No recalls or reported contamination linked to Karat Earth containers. Risk is tied to coating formulation, which remains undisclosed.
Source, FDA ↗BPA & bisphenols
Paper-based food containers rarely use BPA/BPS, but coating chemistry is unknown. Manufacturer has not confirmed absence.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Karat does not publicly disclose the chemical composition of its waterproof coating. No third-party certifications (e.g., FDA migration testing reports, compostability standards that often require coating detail) are readily available for this product line. The brand's silence on coating chemistry is standard for many food-service suppliers but represents a transparency gap when PFAS adoption in the industry is widespread.
How it compares in its category
Paper food containers with coatings sit in a middle ground, they avoid heavy metals and BPA risks of certain plastics, but the coating introduces chemical uncertainty absent in uncoated paper or molded fiber alternatives. Competitors vary widely; some disclose wax or bio-based coatings, others remain silent. Karat's lack of transparency is typical of mid-market suppliers and less restrictive than brands that explicitly tout PFAS-free or wax-coated options.
If you buy it
Use these containers for room-temperature and warm (not hot or oily) foods; heat and fatty foods increase migration risk from any unknown coating. Do not microwave or use with prolonged liquid storage without testing first. If the brand has not disclosed the coating by your purchase date, consider this a temporary choice pending confirmation. For sensitive populations (infants, pregnant individuals), prioritize brands with published coating chemistry.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% 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 Paper Food Containers?
- 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.