World Centric · Food Packaging
World Centric No Tree Folded Takeout Containers
Avoid until the manufacturer discloses coating chemistry or provides PFAS-free certification.
These bagasse containers use plant-based fiber but apply a water-resistant coating to handle greasy foods, where PFAS is commonly used. The brand provides no coating disclosure, PFAS testing, or verification.
The safe swap
Loliware
Karat Earth Eco-Friendly PLA Round Deli Container
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
Bagasse (plant fiber) with unspecified water-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.
Water-resistant coating chemistry (unspecified)
Bagasse naturally requires a water barrier to function as a takeout container. World Centric has not disclosed whether this coating is PFAS-based, fluorine-free wax, or another chemistry. Given industry prevalence of fluorinated coatings in bagasse products, risk cannot be ruled out.
Coating degradation and microparticle release
Repeated contact with hot or acidic foods can degrade any applied water barrier, potentially releasing microparticles or exposing uncoated bagasse fibers. World Centric does not specify reusability or degradation timelines, and these are single-use items.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Bagasse processing typically involves fewer bleaching steps than virgin kraft pulp, reducing formaldehyde and chlorine dioxin risk. No recalls or test failures are on record for World Centric bagasse containers in this regard.
Source: ATSDR ↗Microbial contamination during storage or shipping
Bagasse's porous structure can harbor bacteria if containers are stored damp. However, World Centric containers ship dry and are intended for single use only, reducing practical risk compared to reusable containers.
Heavy metals
No recalls or test data are publicly available linking World Centric bagasse containers to lead, cadmium, or other heavy metal contamination. Bagasse itself is a plant fiber with low inherent metal uptake.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
World Centric's No Tree containers are molded from bagasse, the fibrous residue left after sugarcane processing. Bagasse is compostable and avoids virgin plastics, making it inherently lower-risk for BPA/BPS leaching. However, bagasse is porous and absorbs moisture, so manufacturers apply water-resistant coatings to prevent grease and liquid penetration. World Centric does not publicly disclose what coating chemistry they use on these containers, which is the critical safety gap.
The brand's record and disclosure
World Centric markets itself as an eco-conscious, sustainable brand and does hold certifications for compostability (BPI and TUV Austria). However, the company has not published ingredient lists, coating specifications, or PFAS test results for its takeout containers. This silence on coating chemistry is notable in an industry where leading competitors (notably some European bagasse producers) increasingly market PFAS-free alternatives. World Centric's lack of transparency on this issue is a red flag rather than evidence of safety.
How it compares in its category
Bagasse containers sit between plastic clamshells and coated paper. Unlike polystyrene or PET plastic, bagasse does not leach BPA or phthalates. Unlike molded fiber (kraft pulp), bagasse requires less bleaching and has lower formaldehyde risk. However, without knowing the water-resistant coating, this product cannot be confidently ranked above coated-paper alternatives that do disclose PFAS-free coatings. Peer brands (Notocup, some Vegware lines) now offer PFAS-free bagasse or paper at similar price points.
If you buy it
Use these containers for dry or ambient-temperature takeout only; avoid hot foods above 50 C (122 F) to minimize any potential coating migration. Do not microwave or heat the containers. These are intended for single use; do not reuse for food storage. Given the unknown coating, treat these as temporary food contact only and replace with a brand offering PFAS-free certification if you use takeout containers regularly. Compost after single use as intended rather than reusing.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- World Centric 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.