Naturally Chic · Food Packaging
34oz Compostable Eco Friendly Container Trays
Skip until the brand discloses waterproofing chemistry used.
Compostable containers labeled eco-friendly often rely on fluorinated coatings for grease and moisture protection. This brand makes no statement about PFAS content or waterproofing method.
The safe swap
Eco-Products
Eco-Products WorldView Sugarcane Take-Out 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
Compostable resin/plastic with waterproofing (type unspecified)
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.
Vague safety claims only
Uses vague terms like eco-friendly without confirming no PFAS.
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
PFAS
Compostable resins require a waterproofing additive or coating. The brand does not specify what this is. PFAS and other fluorinated compounds are standard in the food packaging industry for this purpose; leaching risk into fatty or hot foods cannot be ruled out without composition data.
Source: ATSDR ↗Microplastics
If the waterproofing coating is a thin polymer layer or paraffin wax, repeated heating, cutting, or contact with acidic foods may cause flaking or shedding into food. No data exists on the durability of Naturally Chic's specific coating formulation.
Source: EPA ↗Composting claim unverified
The container is labeled compostable but may only break down in industrial high-heat facilities; home compost and most municipal programs will not accept it. If it ends up in landfill or environment, the waterproofing coating may persist and leach for years.
What’s reassuring
BPA & bisphenols
PLA and PHA resins are generally free of BPA by design, but some compostable blends include additives for flexibility. Naturally Chic has not disclosed whether additives are present or tested. Heating or prolonged contact with acidic liquids increases theoretical leaching risk for any plasticizer present.
Source: FDA ↗Heavy metals
Compostable resins sometimes contain colorants or reinforcing agents (calcium carbonate, talc) that may carry trace metals. No third-party testing or certification (e.g., NSF, FDA) is publicly available for this product to rule this out.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
These containers are marketed as compostable resin (likely polylactic acid/PLA or polyhydroxyalkanoate/PHA blend) with added waterproofing treatment. The waterproofing agent is not specified by Naturally Chic, which is the critical gap: compostable plastics alone are hydrophilic and break down in moisture, so a coating or chemical additive is necessary to make them water-resistant for food use. Without knowing what that coating is, you cannot assess leaching risk or whether it degrades into the food during heating or acidic/fatty food contact.
The brand's record and disclosure
Naturally Chic has not published material safety data sheets (MSDS), third-party test results, or detailed composition information for this product line publicly available. The brand shows no transparency on waterproofing chemistry or certifications beyond generic 'compostable' claims. No established recalls or controversies are on record, but silence on composition is a red flag in a category where PFAS and other water-repellent chemicals are common industry practices.
How it compares in its category
Compostable food containers occupy a murky middle ground: they avoid persistent plastics like polystyrene or polycarbonate, but many brands still use PFAS-based waterproofing (perfluorinated compounds) to meet grease and moisture barriers. Better-documented alternatives from larger brands (Footprint, World Centric) publish waterproofing ingredient lists; some use silicone or paraffin wax instead. Naturally Chic's silence puts it at a disadvantage compared to competitors willing to disclose what's in their coatings.
If you buy it
Do not use these containers for hot or oily foods until the brand confirms the waterproofing additive. Heat and fat accelerate leaching from unspecified coatings. Store dry food only at room temperature. Composting claims are only valid if your facility accepts the specific material (PLA or PHA), and many municipal programs do not. Request a full MSDS and waterproofing ingredient list from the brand before purchase; if they refuse, choose a competitor with published safety data.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Naturally Chic 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.