100-pack Compostable Disposable Sugarcane Fiber Take-Out Containers
Skip unless the manufacturer reveals coating composition and PFAS status.
Loliware's sugarcane containers claim compostability but don't disclose what grease-resistant coating is used. Food packaging coatings commonly contain fluorinated compounds.
The safe swap
Bagasse
Bagasse Hinged Container 3-Compartment, PFAS Free 200pc
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
Sugarcane fiber (bagasse) with undisclosed grease/moisture-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
PFAS
Grease-resistant coatings on bagasse typically rely on fluorinated compounds; Loliware's refusal to disclose coating identity strongly suggests PFAS presence. Even newer 'PFAS-free' fluorine-based replacements (such as GenX or other emerging chemicals) carry toxicological uncertainty.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating leaching into food
Hot or fatty foods can accelerate migration of coating components (including PFAS and co-solvents) into food, particularly if the coating is not fully cured or bonded. Risk scales with temperature, fat content of food, and coating thickness.
Microplastics
If the coating is polymer-based (common for water resistance), mechanical wear, UV exposure, or microbial breakdown in composting environments could shed microscopic particles. Direct ingestion risk is low during normal use but increases if containers are reused improperly.
Source: EPA ↗Bacterial growth from moisture retention
Bagasse fiber is hygroscopic and can retain moisture in crevices; if containers are stored damp or reused improperly, bacterial or mold colonization is plausible, particularly if the coating is compromised. This is a storage and reuse issue, not a manufacturing defect.
What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
No public record of heavy-metal contamination in Loliware bagasse containers; however, undisclosed coating composition means this cannot be ruled out without independent testing or manufacturer disclosure.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
These containers are molded from bagasse, the fibrous residue left after sugarcane processing, which is inherently lower-toxicity and compostable. The hazard lies entirely in the coating applied to make the container grease and moisture resistant. Loliware does not publicly disclose the chemistry of this coating, which is the critical gap: such coatings commonly use PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") or other fluorinated compounds to achieve water and oil repellency on porous fiber. Without transparent disclosure, you cannot verify whether the coating is PFAS-free.
The brand's record and disclosure
Loliware markets heavily on compostability and sustainability messaging but has not published detailed material safety data sheets or coating specifications for this product line. The brand has received no formal PFAS-related recalls or public safety actions on record, but their silence on coating composition is itself a red flag in an industry where competitors increasingly disclose PFAS avoidance. No third-party certifications (such as FDA food-contact approval or specific PFAS-free claims) appear publicly linked to this product.
How it compares in its category
Sugarcane bagasse containers occupy a middle ground: better than virgin plastic (lower microplastic risk) and greener than foam, but less established than molded-fiber products from companies with transparent coating disclosures. Competitors like Footprint and some Kraft-based molded-fiber suppliers have begun publishing coating transparency; Loliware's lack of equivalent detail puts it behind the safety-disclosure curve. Compostability alone does not eliminate food-contact toxicity risk during use.
If you buy it
Contact Loliware directly and request written confirmation that the coating is PFAS-free before purchase. Do not use for hot or oily foods (>140°F / 60°C) unless assured the coating is thermally stable and non-leaching. Inspect containers for visible wear, discoloration, or flaking before each use; discard if coating appears degraded. Store in cool, dry conditions away from prolonged sunlight, as UV exposure can compromise fiber integrity and accelerate coating breakdown.
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
- Loliware 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.