Who Gives A Crap · Pizza Boxes
8" Kraft Paper Open Pizza Box
Lower concern, uncoated kraft pizza box poses minimal PFAS risk.
This product is uncoated kraft paper, the baseline material for pizza boxes. Uncoated kraft does not require water/grease repellency treatments, so PFAS-based water-repellent coating coatings are unlikely.
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Kraft paper (uncoated)
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.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This is virgin or recycled kraft paper with no polymer coating, adhesive lamination, or water-resistant treatment. Kraft pulp is mechanically and chemically processed wood fiber, typically bleached with chlorine dioxide or hydrogen peroxide. The lack of coating means no fluorochemical repellents (PFAS) or wax barriers are present, which reduces chemical leaching into food but also limits grease resistance and structural durability during use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Who Gives A Crap (WGAC) is known for sustainability marketing and FSC/recycled material commitments, but does not publicly disclose food-contact safety testing, heavy metal assays, or ink/adhesive certifications for this specific box. The brand's opacity on migration testing and chlorine residues from bleaching is typical for the category but represents a gap in transparency for food-contact packaging. No recalled or reported contamination events are on record for WGAC pizza boxes.
How it compares in its category
Most pizza boxes are coated kraft (PE, PLA, or wax) to resist grease; uncoated kraft boxes are less common and typically cheaper or eco-marketed. Uncoated kraft eliminates concerns about coating delamination or synthetic polymer migration but offers minimal grease barrier, so oil and moisture will penetrate quickly. Competitors using recycled content and FSC certification (e.g., Footprint, local suppliers) often match WGAC on environmental claims but similarly lack published migration data.
If you buy it
Use this box for dry pizza or short hold times (under 20 minutes); prolonged greasy pizza contact will saturate the paper and reduce structural integrity. Store flat and dry before use; moisture absorption will weaken folds and seals. If the box shows visible ink transfer, discoloration, or softening, discard and contact supplier. Compost after use if certified compostable; standard recycling is acceptable but may contaminate if grease-soaked.
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.”
Chlorine residues from kraft pulp bleaching
Kraft pulp is bleached with chlorine dioxide or ECF (elemental chlorine-free) processes; residual organochlorines or chlorate can theoretically migrate into fatty foods, though levels are typically below regulatory thresholds in the EU and FDA guidance. No independent testing of this specific WGAC product is on record.
Heavy metals in inks and adhesives
FDA and EU regulations limit cadmium, lead, and chromium in food-contact inks and hot-melt adhesives. WGAC does not disclose ink formulations or third-party certification; uncoated kraft boxes often use soy or mineral inks for branding, which reduces but does not eliminate risk of trace metals in pigments.
Grease saturation and structural failure
Uncoated kraft offers zero water and grease resistance; prolonged contact with fatty pizza oils will soften fibers, compromise box integrity, and create conditions for food spillage. Not a direct toxicity hazard but a practical food safety issue (contamination, temperature control loss).
Microcontaminants from recycled fiber content
If this box contains recycled kraft, it may harbor trace contaminants from previous food or industrial use, depending on sorting and cleaning protocols. WGAC does not specify virgin vs. recycled ratio or contaminant screening for this product.
Formaldehyde or other volatile organics from sizing or coating residues
Uncoated kraft typically avoids formaldehyde-based resins, but legacy or budget kraft may retain sizing agents. No reports of off-gassing or VOC issues specific to WGAC pizza boxes are available.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% 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.
More pizza boxes 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.