Pactiv Evergreen · Disposable Food Containers
Pactiv D186CLMW R3J Pizza Slice Clamshell Triangular Shape Paperboard
Pizza box coating unknown; grease-resistant coatings often contain PFAS.
Pactiv's paperboard pizza box has an unspecified grease-resistant coating. Fluorinated water and oil repellents commonly appear in pizza box coatings without disclosure.
The better-graded swap
Eco-Products
Eco-Products Compostable Clear Clamshell Hinged Food
100/100 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
Paperboard with unspecified grease-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Pactiv D186CLMW R3J Pizza Shape Paperboard is made of, ingredients and materials
This is a molded paperboard clamshell (the D186CLMW model is triangular pizza-slice shaped) with a grease-resistant coating applied to the interior. Paperboard base itself is inert and food-safe. The coating is the concern, Pactiv does not publicly disclose whether it uses PFAS-free or PFAS-based grease barriers on this specific SKU. Many pizza clamshells in the industry use fluorochemical coatings (PFAS) because they repel both water and oils effectively; some manufacturers have switched to non-fluorinated alternatives, but product-level transparency is rare.
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
Pactiv has not disclosed the coating chemistry for this clamshell. Grease-resistant paperboard coatings often contain PFAS (perfluorooctanoate, PFOA, or related compounds); no public testing or certification data exists for this specific model. Risk is elevated due to direct food contact and lack of brand transparency.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating migration to fatty foods
Pizza is high-fat; grease-resistant coatings can leach into oily foods, especially if clamshell is exposed to heat or prolonged contact. If the coating contains PFAS or other fluorochemicals, migration risk increases with temperature and duration of storage.
What’s reassuring
Microplastics
Paperboard clamshells do not typically shed microplastics as plastic containers do. However, if the coating degrades (scratches, creasing, exposure to high heat), particles may fragment into food; no specific degradation data is available for this model.
Source, EPA ↗Ink or adhesive leachables
Printing inks and structural adhesives in molded paperboard can theoretically leach; however, foodservice-grade clamshells are subject to FDA food-contact substance rules, and Pactiv's formulations are presumed compliant. No adverse reports have been documented for this product line.
BPA & bisphenols
Modern paperboard coatings do not typically use BPA/BPS; fluorochemical or wax-based barriers are standard. No evidence suggests Pactiv uses bisphenol compounds in this clamshell.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Pactiv Evergreen is a major foodservice packaging supplier but has not published a comprehensive PFAS elimination timeline or product-specific coating disclosures. The company has not voluntarily certified its pizza clamshells as PFAS-free, nor issued public recalls or advisories related to PFAS in this line. Industry pressure on PFAS in food contact has increased since 2020, but Pactiv's response remains opaque at the product level. This silence is noteworthy given regulatory scrutiny in states like California and Vermont.
How it compares in its category
Pizza clamshells are a high-risk category for PFAS because grease resistance is functionally critical and PFAS chemistry delivers it cheaply. Competing brands (e.g., Huhtamaki, Dart) similarly do not always disclose coating type. A minority of manufacturers (e.g., some compostable clamshell makers) explicitly market PFAS-free barriers, but these are typically more expensive and less widely available in foodservice. Pactiv's lack of commitment places it in the mainstream but also means you cannot confidently assume safety without direct contact with the supplier.
If you buy it
Use for short-term room-temperature or warm (not hot) food storage only. Do not microwave or heat the clamshell; transfer pizza to ceramic or glass before reheating. Replace clamshells immediately after use rather than storing them with residual grease, as prolonged contact may increase coating leaching. If you use these regularly (e.g., in a pizzeria or frequent takeout consumer), request Pactiv's product safety data sheet (PDS) or contact their customer service to ask whether this SKU's coating is PFAS-free; silence after inquiry is a signal to switch brands.
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
- Pactiv Evergreen has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Pactiv D186CLMW R3J Pizza Slice Clamshell Triangular Shape Paperboard?
Eco-Products
Compostable Clear Clamshell Hinged Food
- Compostable resin (PLA/PBAT blend, plant-based)
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Thermal degradation and chemical release at use temperatures
- Sugarcane bagasse (compostable fiber)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bleaching agents and residual processing chemicals
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- polypropylene (PP) container, uncoated
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastics
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More disposable food containers 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.