Pactiv Evergreen · Disposable Food Service Containers
Pactiv Evergreen Conventional Foam Hinged Lid Container
Skip; foam packaging often treated with PFAS for grease resistance.
Pactiv Evergreen does not disclose PFAS or surface treatments on this foam container. Foam food packaging commonly uses fluorinated coatings for grease resistance, making PFAS exposure likely without verification otherwise.
The safe swap
Compostables
Eco-Products Compostable Clear Clamshell Hinged Food
100/100 safety
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Expanded polystyrene foam with unspecified surface 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.
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
This product is expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, a petroleum-derived plastic with air pockets that provides insulation and cushioning. The manufacturer has not publicly disclosed what surface coating or treatment is applied to the foam, which is critical because food-contact foam is often treated with water and grease-repellent chemicals to prevent oil from breaking down the foam. Without ingredient transparency, you cannot determine whether PFAS, other fluorinated coatings, or untested surfactants are present.
The brand's record and disclosure
Pactiv Evergreen has not published ingredient disclosures, chemical safety statements, or third-party certifications for this product line. The brand has not publicly committed to PFAS phase-out or chemical transparency programs that competitors in the foodservice packaging space have adopted. No major recalls or safety violations are on record, but the absence of disclosure itself is a transparency failure.
How it compares in its category
Conventional foam hinged containers are among the highest-risk single-use food packaging for PFAS and unknown coatings; they are in the same tier as fast-food clamshells and greasy-food boxes. Alternatives such as molded fiber (uncoated), bagasse, or PFAS-free certified compostable plastics carry lower documented chemical risk. Some manufacturers now offer foam alternatives explicitly formulated without PFAS, making this product's silence on the issue a relative disadvantage.
If you buy it
Do not use for hot or oily foods, as heat and grease accelerate leaching of surface coatings into food. Store dry foods only and keep containers cool. Replace immediately if foam shows visible degradation, cracks, or discoloration. Better practice: request PFAS-free or uncoated fiber containers from your supplier, or choose durable reusable alternatives for foods that will contact the container long-term.
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 and fluorinated grease-repellent coatings
EPS foam used for food packaging is routinely treated with PFAS-based or other fluorinated water- and grease-repellent coatings. Pactiv Evergreen has not disclosed the coating composition; industry-wide testing shows these substances migrate to fatty and acidic foods. This is the primary hazard for this product class.
Polystyrene leaching (styrene monomer)
Expanded polystyrene foam itself can release small amounts of styrene, a possible carcinogen, especially when in contact with acidic, fatty, or hot foods. Migration increases over time and with thermal stress. FDA permits this use but acknowledges styrene leaching occurs.
Unknown surface coating composition
Manufacturer has not disclosed the identity or function of any coating applied to this foam. Without transparency, other antimicrobial, slip-reducing, or barrier chemicals of unknown safety profile may be present and could leach into food.
Microplastic and foam particle shedding
EPS foam degrades with mechanical stress, temperature, and UV exposure, releasing small foam particles. When used for food, these particles can contaminate food, particularly for liquids, hot items, and long storage. Degradation is visible but often goes unnoticed.
Recycling contamination and environmental persistence
EPS foam is difficult to recycle and is banned in many municipalities. Residual food and grease prevent recycling; most EPS ends up in landfills or oceans. While not a direct ingestion hazard, this reflects a product designed without end-of-life safety responsibility.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 35% 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 Disposable Food Service Containers
Compostables
Eco-Products Compostable Clear Clamshell Hinged Food
Compostable resin (PLA/PBAT blend, plant-based)
Lower concern. Compostable clamshell with PFAS-free claim and certifications.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Hefty
Food Storage Containers with Lids
Polypropylene (PP) plastic container with lids
Lower concern. Polypropylene containers unlikely to contain intentional PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Hefty
Clear Plastic Hinged Take-Out Containers
polypropylene (PP) plastic
Lower concern; no known PFAS risk from PP hinged containers.
⚠Risky category by default
More disposable food service 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.