Koppers · Grease-Resistant Butcher Paper
12" - Butcher Paper Rolls Roll
Butcher paper likely contains water/grease repellent coating; brand silent on PFAS.
Butcher paper typically uses water-repellent coating treatment to resist blood and moisture, often PFAS-based. Koppers does not disclose PFAS status. Lower confidence due to lack of transparency.
The safe swap
Hardin Simmons
Gordon Paper Butcher Paper
70/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned its C.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Kraft paper with grease-resistant treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Koppers butcher paper is kraft paper (cellulose fibers from wood pulp) treated with a grease-resistant coating to prevent oil and fat seepage during food storage and transport. The coating is the hazard vector: kraft paper alone is inert, but manufacturers typically apply fluorochemical water and grease repellents (PFAS-class compounds like Teflon-type coating or perfluoroalkyl substances) or, less commonly, silicone or wax-based alternatives. Koppers does not publicly disclose the specific repellent chemistry, making the PFAS content unverifiable from available sources.
The brand's record and disclosure
Koppers Company is a timber-treatment and specialty-products manufacturer; no published sustainability reports, PFAS phase-out commitments, or food-safety certifications (e.g., FDA pre-clearance statements) are on record for this butcher paper line. The brand remains silent on PFAS in food-contact coatings, which is typical for mid-tier commodity suppliers but represents a transparency gap versus leading competitors (e.g., Footprint, Duro) who publish PFAS-free claims. No recalls or regulatory violations specific to this product are documented.
How it compares in its category
Most butcher paper and food-wrap rolls use grease-resistant coatings; uncoated kraft paper exists but sacrifices functionality. Competitors offering PFAS-free or disclosed alternatives include brands using silicone, clay-mineral, or wax barriers. Koppers' lack of public commitment places it in the 'standard commodity' tier, neither high-hazard nor transparently low-risk. Price typically favors Koppers over certified-low-PFAS options.
If you buy it
Use for food wrapping at room temperature and short-term refrigeration without concern for direct food contact (paper-to-food migration is minimal for brief storage). Do not use at high heat (e.g., oven wrapping above 350F) or prolonged hot-oil contact, as heat can mobilize coating residues. Do not incinerate in uncontrolled settings; PFAS in the coating may volatilize and persist in ash. Replace rolls every 12-18 months if stored in warm or humid conditions to prevent mold or degradation.
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.”
PFAS in grease-resistant coating
Butcher paper requires water and grease repellence; fluorochemical compounds (perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA, or longer-chain PFAS) are the industry standard. Koppers' silence on alternatives suggests conventional fluorochemical treatment, though no test data are public. Migration to fatty foods is possible, especially if paper is creased or contact prolonged.
Formaldehyde in adhesives or sizing
Kraft paper manufacturing often uses formaldehyde-containing resins for sizing or water resistance in the paper substrate itself, separate from the topcoat. Koppers does not disclose formaldehyde content; levels in food-contact paper are typically low but not zero.
Chlorine residues from bleaching
Butcher paper is usually unbleached kraft (natural brown color), so elemental chlorine is not a known concern. Some manufacturers use oxygen or ozone, which leave no hazardous residue. Koppers' product appears unbleached, but confirmation is absent.
Bacterial or mold colonization if stored wet
Paper itself is hygroscopic and can support microbial growth if humidity is high or rolls are stored in damp conditions. The coating does not prevent bacterial adhesion to the reverse side. Risk is low for normal kitchen storage but increases in unventilated or wet environments.
Ink or printing chemical transfer (if roll is printed)
The standard Koppers 12-inch roll does not appear to have printed labels or branding on the food-contact surface; no inorganic pigments or heavy metals from printing are expected. Confirm absence of ink on the product before purchase if not specified.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% 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 Grease-Resistant Butcher Paper
Hardin Simmons
Gordon Paper Butcher Paper
kraft paper, bleached sulfate pulp
Lower concern; uncoated butcher paper has minimal PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
Hardin Simmons
Durable Packaging White Butcher Paper Roll
bleached kraft paper, likely uncoated
Lower concern. Standard butcher paper unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Deli King
Butcher Paper King Kraft Paper 36" x 500 ft
Kraft paper, unbleached cellulose
Lower concern. Kraft paper is inherently PFAS-free by composition.
⚠Risky category by default
More grease-resistant butcher paper 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.