25/ 100
F
OverallF17/100
Natural Value Waxed Paper

Natural Value · Grease-Resistant Paper Products

Natural Value Waxed Paper

F · High PFAS

Wax-coated paper likely lower concern, but no PFAS disclosure available.

Verdict: SkipWaxed paper is a safer short-term food contact material than plastic; no known contaminant recalls, but brand transparency on wax source is absent.

Natural Value waxed paper uses traditional wax coating, which typically avoids PFAS. Brand provides no public PFAS statement, leaving uncertainty about specific sourcing and processing.

The safe swap

If You Care Parchment Baking Sheets

Target

If You Care Parchment Baking Sheets

70/100 safety

C

Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.

Material

paper with wax coating

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.

Hurts the 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

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

Natural Value Waxed Paper consists of virgin or recycled paper substrate coated with a thin layer of wax (typically paraffin or soy-based). The wax layer serves as a moisture barrier and grease barrier, allowing the product to safely contact foods without direct paper-to-food migration. Unlike plastic films, paper itself does not leach synthetic polymers, though the wax coating composition and purity are critical to safety. The wax remains stable at room temperature and warm conditions but may soften or transfer if exposed to sustained heat above 180-200°F.

The brand's record and disclosure

Natural Value is a private-label brand sold primarily through food co-ops and natural retailers; public safety disclosures are minimal and no third-party certifications (FSC, chlorine-free, organic, or wax-source verification) are readily documented on packaging or brand websites. The company has not published statements about wax sourcing (paraffin vs. plant-based), bleaching agents in the paper, or PFAS-free status. No major product recalls involving this waxed paper appear in FDA or CPSC databases. The absence of transparency is typical for smaller natural brands but limits independent verification of production standards.

How it compares in its category

Waxed paper is generally considered safer for food contact than single-use plastics (which may contain BPA, BPS, or phthalates) and parchment paper (which is often Teflon-type coating-coated or chlorine-bleached). It avoids the microplastics leaching risk of polyethylene films and the heat-stability concerns of compostable plastics. However, it ranks below plastic-free alternatives like glass, stainless steel, or beeswax-cotton wraps for durability and reusability. Natural Value's lack of certifications makes it harder to confirm whether the wax is food-grade quality or the paper is responsibly sourced compared to certified competitor products.

If you buy it

Use waxed paper for room-temperature and warm food storage (sandwiches, baked goods, cheese) and short-term wrapping only; do not use it as oven liners or for foods heated above 180°F, as wax softening and possible transfer may occur. Replace sheets if they tear, show discoloration, or feel tacky, as degraded wax reduces barrier function. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent wax from becoming brittle or greasy. Dispose in compost or recycling according to local guidelines, though some facilities do not accept waxed paper due to wax coating contamination concerns.

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.”

Possible

Wax coating composition and purity

Paraffin wax (petroleum-derived) or plant-based wax (soy, palm) carry no documented toxicity at food contact, but Natural Value does not disclose wax source or refining standards. Impurities in lower-grade wax are theoretically possible but unconfirmed for this brand.

None known

Paper bleaching agents and residues

Waxed paper may be chlorine-bleached or elemental-chlorine-free; Natural Value does not specify. Chlorine-free paper reduces dioxin formation risk, but no recalls or reported contamination exist for this product. Standard food-grade paper typically meets FDA limits.

None known

Ink or printing residues on package surface

If Natural Value waxed paper is printed with packaging ink, food-contact side inks must comply with FDA regulations; no violations are documented, but brand provides no ink-safety statement.

None known

Microplastic or fiber shedding

Paper does not fragment into microplastics. Loose paper fibers can theoretically transfer to food if the sheet is damaged, but this is a physical contamination issue, not a chemical hazard, and is rare with intact product use.

Possible

Heat degradation and wax transfer

Wax coatings soften and may migrate into foods if product is used as an oven liner or in sustained high heat. This is a foreseeable misuse risk rather than a manufacturing defect, but lacks brand warnings on packaging.

What we don’t know

This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 65% 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 Paper Products

If You Care Parchment Baking Sheets

Target

If You Care Parchment Baking Sheets

unbleached parchment paper, silicone coating

C
C · Moderate

Lower concern. PFAS-free claim with MADE SAFE certification.

MADE SAFE

Waterproof or stain-proof treatment

IDL Packaging PFAS-Free Grease-Proof Paper Sheets

Glad

IDL Packaging PFAS-Free Grease-Proof Paper Sheets

paper with grease-proof coating

F
F
PFASAll
F · High PFAS5 flags

Brand claims PFAS-free; grease-proof coating type unspecified, moderate concern remains.

Waterproof or stain-proof treatment

IDL Packaging PFAS-Free Grease-Proof Paper Sheets

Natural Value

IDL Packaging PFAS-Free Grease-Proof Paper Sheets

cellulose paper with grease-resistant coating

F
F
PFASAll
F · High PFAS2 flags

Brand claims PFAS-free, but unverified.

Waterproof or stain-proof treatment

More grease-resistant paper products 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.