Pactiv Evergreen · Disposable Food Service Containers
Pactiv Evergreen Green/Red Paper Pizza Clamshell
Grease-resistant food packaging, coating composition undisclosed, higher PFAS risk.
Pactiv Evergreen pizza boxes use coated paperboard for grease resistance, but the brand does not disclose coating chemistry. Such coatings historically contain PFAS; without transparency, safer alternatives unclear.
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
Paperboard with unspecified grease-resistant 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 bleached paperboard with an applied grease-resistant coating whose chemical composition Pactiv does not publicly disclose. Grease barriers on food packaging are almost universally fluorinated (PFAS-based) or silicone-based, though Pactiv has not stated which. The paperboard substrate itself is inert and does not leach; the risk profile centers entirely on the coating and whether it migrates into food under heat or with fatty foods.
The brand's record and disclosure
Pactiv Evergreen has not published transparency reports on PFAS use in food-contact coatings, nor has it committed to phasing out PFAS in this product line. The company is owned by Berkley, a major food-service packaging manufacturer with no public PFAS elimination roadmap. Absence of disclosure is not confirmation of PFAS presence, but it prevents informed purchasing and suggests the coating composition is not a marketing advantage.
How it compares in its category
This clamshell sits in the mainstream of single-use pizza boxes. Competitors like Huhtamaki and some store-brand alternatives also use fluorinated coatings by default. Compostable or PFAS-free alternatives (wax-lined kraft, silicone-coated paperboard) exist but are less common and typically cost more. If PFAS exposure is a concern, seeking brands that explicitly certify PFAS-free coatings is the only reliable alternative.
If you buy it
Use these boxes for their intended purpose: serving hot or room-temperature pizza. Avoid prolonged storage of greasy food in them; transfer leftovers to glass or ceramic within 2-3 hours to limit coating contact time. Do not microwave food in the box. Recycle or compost according to local guidelines, though fluorinated coatings may contaminate compost streams. For frequent pizza consumption, explore branded or restaurant sources willing to disclose their coating chemistry.
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
Coating composition is proprietary and undisclosed. Grease barriers on food packaging are PFAS-based in majority of products on market. Migration risk is low at room temperature but increases with fatty foods and heat.
Coating migration or degradation
No recalls or published safety complaints about this specific product. Paperboard itself does not degrade under normal food-contact use. Risk would only emerge if coating flakes or leaches, which is not documented for Pactiv clamshells.
Microplastics or plastic additives
Product is primarily paperboard; any plastic component is the coating. Paperboard does not fragment into microplastics under normal use. Coating may contain proprietary additives, but none are publicly identified as problematic.
Bleach residues or chlorine byproducts
Bleached paperboard is standard food-contact material and is not associated with residual chlorine or dioxin risk when produced to FDA-recognized standards. No specific safety alerts for this brand exist.
Thermal breakdown or off-gassing
Paperboard is stable at typical pizza serving temperatures (170-200 F). Risk of fume release is not a concern unless box is exposed to open flame or oven temperatures above 350 F, which is outside normal use.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 42% 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.