Earth's Natural Alternative · Food Packaging
Earth's Natural Alternative 9"x 9" 3-Compartment Carryout Containers
Lower concern but verify grease-resistant coating details with the manufacturer.
These compostable containers use molded fiber, a naturally lower-risk material than plastic. However, the grease-resistant or moisture barrier coating remains undisclosed by the manufacturer.
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
Molded fiber/paperboard with suspected grease-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Earth's Natural Alternative 9"x Containers is made of, ingredients and materials
These containers are molded fiber (recycled paper pulp) with an applied grease-resistant coating, likely fluorinated to repel oils and moisture. Molded fiber itself is food-safe and compostable, but the coating is the critical unknown, fluorinated coatings almost always contain PFAS compounds (per EPA and FDA guidance), and the specific fluorocarbon chain length and migration risk are not disclosed by Naturally Chic. Uncoated molded fiber would leach no chemical concerns, but the coating's composition and durability under actual use conditions is opaque.
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Molded fiber containers typically rely on fluorinated coatings to meet FDA food contact regulations; the coating chemistry and migration potential are not disclosed by the manufacturer, and the brand has not published PFAS testing or PFOA-free certification.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and leaching
Molded fiber coatings are susceptible to breakdown under heat, acidic foods, and oils over time; visible wear or peeling indicates accelerated chemical migration into food, particularly relevant for children's meals and frequent reuse.
Microplastics
As the fluorinated coating degrades, small particles may flake into food; while microplastic ingestion effects are still being studied, this is a known failure mode in molded fiber products with polymer-based coatings.
Source, EPA ↗Absence of food-contact compliance transparency
The brand does not disclose whether the product meets FDA food additive regulations (21 CFR 176.3400 for fluorinated coatings) or whether coating migration testing has been performed; this is standard information for responsible manufacturers.
Compostability claims vs. coating persistence
While molded fiber is compostable, fluorinated coatings do not readily biodegrade and may persist in compost or soil; the brand's 'natural alternative' messaging may mislead consumers into believing the entire product is biodegradable when the coating is likely not.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Naturally Chic provides no public disclosure of the specific grease-resistant coating formulation, ingredients, or PFAS testing results. No independent certifications (such as PFOA-free claims or third-party testing) appear on record. The brand's marketing emphasizes 'natural alternative' positioning but does not address the synthetic fluorinated coating chemistry, which is a significant transparency gap for a product marketed as eco-conscious. This silence on a known PFAS-prone feature is a red flag for informed consumers.
How it compares in its category
Molded fiber takeout containers are a growing alternative to plastic clamshells and wax-lined paperboard, but the grease-resistant coating is the trade-off, most commercial versions use fluorinated coatings to meet food contact standards. Uncoated compostable containers (lined only with starch or silicone) exist but are less grease-resistant and more prone to leaking with oily foods. Naturally Chic's product sits in the mainstream category, offering convenience at the cost of PFAS exposure; it is not a low-PFAS leader like some European or PFOA-free certified alternatives.
If you buy it
Use these containers only for cool or room-temperature foods (no microwave, no hot foods above 60-70 C / 140-160 F), as heat accelerates coating migration and PFAS leaching. Replace immediately if the interior coating shows visible cracking, peeling, or wear, as degradation increases chemical release. Contact Naturally Chic directly to request the grease-resistant coating supplier and PFAS content before repeat purchase. Store in a cool, dry place and avoid prolonged contact with acidic foods or oils, which can degrade the fluorinated layer.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 62% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Earth's Natural Alternative has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Earth's Natural Alternative 9"x 9" 3-Compartment Carryout 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.