PFAS-Free Food Packaging: Regulations, Testing & Sourcing

On this pageWhat PFAS Are and Why They Were Used The Regulatory Picture Which Packaging Is Lower Risk How PFAS Are Tested A Supplier Checklist Handling Existing Stock and Claims Practical Next Steps Buyer FAQ

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have moved from a niche chemistry topic to a front-line compliance issue for anyone importing food packaging. They were widely used to make paper and moulded-fibre packs resist grease and water, and a growing number of jurisdictions now restrict or ban them in food-contact packaging. If you sell paper bowls, burger wraps, bagasse plates or microwave popcorn bags, you need a clear PFAS position before your next order.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules change quickly and vary by country, state and product, so confirm the current requirements for your market before you rely on them.

What PFAS Are and Why They Were Used

PFAS are a large family of fluorinated chemicals with very strong carbon–fluorine bonds, which makes them extremely resistant to heat, water and oil. They are also extremely persistent in the environment, which is why they are nicknamed “forever chemicals”. In food packaging they were added as a surface treatment or in the pulp to give fibre-based items grease resistance without a plastic film. They were most often found in:

Fast-food wraps and paper bags
Moulded-fibre bowls, clamshells and plates (including some bagasse products)
Microwave popcorn bags and baking papers
Pet-food and confectionery packaging

Plastic trays and PE-lined board do not need PFAS for grease resistance, but additives, inks and processing aids can still be a source, so PFAS-free must be verified, not assumed.

The Regulatory Picture

Region	Status (summary)	What it means for you
United States, state level	A growing number of states have enacted laws that prohibit intentionally added PFAS in food packaging. Definitions, thresholds and effective dates differ by state	Check each state where you will sell; a pack that is acceptable in one state can be non-compliant in another
United States, federal	FDA has worked with industry to phase out certain PFAS grease-proofing agents from food-contact use	Supplier declarations should cover current FDA status, not just old letters of no objection
European Union	The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) sets limits on PFAS in food-contact packaging and applies in stages from August 2026	Plan for compliance documentation and testing for the EU market
Other markets	Several countries are adopting or considering restrictions	Ask your importer or customs broker for the current local rule

Because details change, treat this table as a map of where to look. Our FDA guide and EU guide explain the underlying food-contact frameworks.

Which Packaging Is Lower Risk

PET, PP and CPET plastic trays and cups: no PFAS needed for performance. Still request a declaration. See PET vs PP vs rPET.
PE-coated or PLA-coated paper: barrier comes from the film, not fluorochemicals. See the kraft paper coatings guide.
Moulded fibre and bagasse: higher risk historically, because grease and water resistance can be added with PFAS. Ask specifically for a PFAS-free declaration and test report. The bagasse guide covers the product category.

How PFAS Are Tested

There is no single “PFAS test”, because the family has thousands of members. Labs use complementary methods:

Total fluorine screening (for example combustion ion chromatography): a fast screen for any organic fluorine. A low total fluorine result is a strong sign of PFAS-free.
Targeted analysis (for example LC-MS/MS): measures specific named PFAS at very low levels.
Extractable or total oxidisable precursor methods: sometimes used to capture compounds that convert to known PFAS.

Ask the lab which method and limit of quantification apply, and make sure the report names the exact product, lot and sample. A third-party report from an accredited lab such as SGS is far stronger than a self-declaration. Reports should be tied to the finished pack, not the raw pulp.

A Supplier Checklist

Written PFAS-free declaration for each SKU, naming the product and manufacturing site.
Third-party test report with method and detection limit, recent enough to represent current production.
Bill-of-materials review: pulp additives, coatings, inks, adhesives and release agents.
Change-control commitment: supplier must notify you before changing any chemical input.
Traceability from lot number back to test sample.
Annual or per-order re-testing for higher-risk fibre products.

Our factory operates under ISO 9001:2015 and BRCGS Packaging, which gives a documented change-control and traceability framework, and we can arrange SGS third-party testing on the finished product for you.

Handling Existing Stock and Claims

Do not claim “PFAS-free” or “no forever chemicals” without a report covering that exact product.
If you already hold inventory, test a sample from each lot and quarantine anything uncertain before shipping to restricted states or the EU.
Keep records: PFAS declarations, reports and purchase specifications for the period required in each market.

Practical Next Steps

List every fibre-based or coated paper item you sell and where it is sold.
Collect declarations and reports from every supplier.
Prioritise testing on moulded fibre and grease-resistant paper.
Write the PFAS requirement into your purchase specification.

If you need PFAS-free paper, fibre or plastic packaging with supporting test documents, contact us with the products and destination markets.

Buyer FAQ

What does PFAS-free food packaging mean?

It means PFAS were not intentionally added, and ideally that tests show fluorine or targeted PFAS below stated limits. The definition varies by law, so ask which standard a claim is based on.

Do plastic food trays contain PFAS?

Plastic trays such as PET, PP and CPET do not need PFAS for performance, but you should still obtain a declaration because additives and processing aids can introduce them.

Is bagasse packaging PFAS-free?

Not automatically. Some moulded-fibre products have used PFAS for grease and water resistance, so request a PFAS-free declaration and a third-party test report for the exact product.

How do I prove packaging is PFAS-free?

Use an accredited third-party lab report, ideally combining a total-fluorine screen with targeted PFAS analysis, tied to the finished product and lot.

Do these rules apply in my market?

Rules differ by country and, in the US, by state, and they change often. Confirm the current requirements with your importer, customs broker or legal adviser before selling.