Avant Grub Biodegradable Take Out Food Containers
Skip until Notpla reveals coating chemistry or provides third-party PFAS testing.
Avant Grub containers use plant fiber, a lower-risk base material, but Notpla doesn't disclose whether the water and grease-resistant coating contains PFAS. No independent verification exists.
The safe swap
Footprint
Matter Compostable Food Storage Container 5ct
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
Plant-based fiber (sugarcane bagasse) with unknown water/grease-resistant coating
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.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
Unknown proprietary coating leachates
The grease-resistant coating composition is not disclosed. Coating leaching into fatty or acidic foods is a known risk pathway for molded-fiber containers; without identification of the coating chemistry, migration risk cannot be ruled out.
Microplastics
If the coating is a synthetic polymer (common for water/oil resistance), mechanical stress, heat, or abrasion during use or washing may shed particles. Notpla has not provided durability or particle-shedding data for this product.
Source: EPA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Molded-fiber coatings sometimes use formaldehyde resins for water resistance. Although outgassing is unlikely in cold food contact, it is a documented concern in the molded-pulp industry and Notpla has not excluded this chemically.
Source: ATSDR ↗BPA & bisphenols
Some molded-fiber and paper coatings use phenolic or epoxy resins that may contain bisphenol compounds. Notpla's silence on coating type makes this difficult to rule out, particularly for food-contact surfaces in acidic or fatty conditions.
Source: FDA ↗What’s reassuring
Bacterial or mold contamination from moisture retention
Bagasse fiber naturally absorbs moisture; poor or degraded coatings can trap water in the matrix, creating conditions for microbial growth if containers are not dried thoroughly after washing or storage. No product-specific data is available, but this is a general risk with fiber-based food contact materials.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Avant Grub containers are molded from sugarcane bagasse, the fibrous residue left after juice extraction. This material is inherently compostable and non-toxic in its base form. However, Notpla has not publicly disclosed the identity or safety data of the water and grease-resistant coating applied to the fiber matrix. This coating is critical to food safety performance, since uncoated bagasse would absorb oils, moisture, and potentially leach fiber particles into food during use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Notpla markets sustainability and compostability prominently but has been silent on coating chemistry and PFAS testing. No independent third-party certifications for coating safety (e.g., FDA food-contact substance confirmation, migration testing) are publicly linked to this product line. The brand's lack of transparency on this critical component is a red flag for a company positioning itself in the premium eco-conscious market.
How it compares in its category
Biodegradable molded-fiber takeout containers represent a growing alternative to plastic clamshells and coated paperboard. Many competitors in this space (e.g., Footprint, World Centric) have committed to PFAS-free coatings and published third-party test reports. Notpla's silence on coating composition puts it behind category leaders in transparency, even as the base material (bagasse) is genuinely less toxic than virgin plastic.
If you buy it
Use only for room-temperature or warm (not hot) foods; high heat may accelerate leaching of unknown coating components. Avoid prolonged contact with acidic or fatty foods, which can stress unidentified coatings. Do not microwave or place in conventional ovens. Inspect containers for visible damage, tears, or discoloration before use, and discard if the coating appears compromised. Check Notpla's website regularly for new safety disclosures or testing data before repeat purchases.
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
- 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.