70/ 100
C
OverallD66/100
Duro Bag 25 lb Short Heavy Duty Kraft Grocery Bag

Duro Bag Manufacturing · Bakery Bags

Duro Bag 25 lb Short Heavy Duty Kraft Grocery Bag

C · Moderate

Lower concern, uncoated kraft is inherently PFAS-unlikely, but no transparency from Duro on sourcing or any grease-resistant treatment.

Verdict: BuyUnbleached kraft paper inherently avoids most chemical hazards; no significant safety record issues for Duro Bag in this category.

Duro's heavy-duty kraft grocery bags are made from kraft paper, a cellulose material with no inherent PFAS risk. Kraft is not typically treated with fluorinated water- or grease-repellent coatings.

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Material

Unbleached kraft paper

Brand disclosure

Brand is silent on PFAS

Lab data

No public lab test

Why this grade

Category baseline

food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.

Hurts the grade

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement about PFAS in this product.

Hurts the grade

Safe base material

Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).

Helps the grade

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

This bag is unbleached kraft paper, a relatively simple cellulose product made from wood pulp without chlorine bleaching. Unbleached kraft avoids the chemical residues (like dioxins) historically associated with bleached paper production. For food contact, unbleached kraft is inert under normal conditions, it does not leach plastic additives, heavy metals, or synthetic coatings unless a separate grease-resistant layer is applied, which Duro has not disclosed for this standard grocery bag.

The brand's record and disclosure

Duro Bag Manufacturing is a long-established U.S. paper bag producer with no known product recalls or safety controversies on record for standard kraft bags. However, the company provides no public transparency about PFAS testing, sourcing practices, or ingredient certifications. This silence is not unusual for commodity paper bag makers, but it reflects a lack of proactive disclosure rather than confirmed safety issues.

How it compares in its category

Standard unbleached kraft grocery bags like this one are among the safest single-use food contact papers available. They avoid the chemical burden of plastic-lined or heavily coated alternatives and sidestep synthetic polymer hazards entirely. Competitors using bleached kraft or plastic-laminated bags introduce additional processing residues; plain unbleached kraft is the simpler choice chemically.

If you buy it

Use these bags for dry goods, baked items, and room-temperature storage without concern. Avoid prolonged contact with oily or wet foods, as uncoated kraft will eventually soften and tear, this is a durability limit, not a safety one. Store in a dry place to prevent mold growth in humid conditions. These bags are fully compostable and biodegradable, making them suitable for composting programs if your facility accepts paper.

Beyond PFAS: other things we checked

Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”

None known

Ink or printing residues (if printed)

The 25 lb Short Heavy Duty Kraft Grocery Bag in standard listings shows minimal or no printing. If printing is present, food-grade inks are standard in this product class, and no contamination reports exist for Duro Bag products. Verify with supplier if custom-printed versions are being used.

Possible

Mold or microbial growth on stored paper

Unbleached kraft paper can support mold if stored or used in high-humidity environments, particularly if bags are wet before or after use. This is an environmental contamination risk, not an intrinsic chemical hazard. Keep bags dry and in ventilated storage.

None known

Formaldehyde or chemical binders in pulp processing

Kraft paper production does not typically use formaldehyde-based resins or cross-linking agents. No known issues have been reported for standard Duro Bag kraft products in this regard.

None known

Heavy metals in cellulose or bleaching residues

Unbleached kraft avoids chlorine-based bleaching, which historically carried dioxin concerns. Standard kraft pulp does not accumulate lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals at unsafe levels. No recalls or contamination reports exist for Duro Bag in this category.

None known

Grease-resistant chemical coatings (Teflon-type coating or wax)

This standard grocery bag is uncoated kraft with no disclosed grease-resistant treatment. If a grease-resistant variant exists, Duro has not disclosed the chemistry publicly, warranting inquiry before purchase for that specific SKU.

What we don’t know

This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.

No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.

The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.

Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.

Safer alternatives in Bakery Bags

World Centric Trash Compostable Bag

World Centric

Trash Compostable Bag

Plant-based biopolymer (PLA/PBAT blend), compostable

A
B
PFASAll
A · Very low PFAS2 flags

Lower-concern choice, compostable material with credible third-party compostability certs; PFAS risk minimal but no independent lab confirmation of PFAS absence.

BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute)Cradle to Cradle CertifiedASTM D6400 certified

Verified PFAS-free by a third party

More bakery bags 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.