PFAS-Free Compostable Bags & Biodegradable Packaging: What PFAS Are and How to Avoid Them

PFAS-Free Compostable Bags & Biodegradable Packaging You Can Actually Stand Behind

PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the “forever chemicals”—have become a sourcing headache for foodservice buyers. Some compostable bags and “greaseproof” papers are coated with PFAS to resist oil, and that coating does not break down in composting. At BagassePackCo, our compostable bags and bagasse tableware are PFAS-free, and we prove it with an independent lab report rather than a line in the catalogue.

What Are PFAS and Why Do They Matter?

PFAS are a class of synthetic chemicals used for their water- and grease-repellent properties. They are persistent in the environment and bioaccumulate, which is why regulators in the EU (under new REACH restrictions), the US (state bans in California, New York, Maine, and others), Canada, and Australia are tightening limits on PFAS in food-contact packaging. If a plate or bag is coated to repel grease, ask what the coating is—PFAS is the usual answer.

Are Your Bags PFAS-Free? How We Know

We do not guess. Our compostable bags are tested by an independent lab for total fluorine and, where required, for specific PFAS compounds. The report is part of the documentation we ship. When a buyer asks “do your compostable bags wholesale contain PFAS?” the honest answer is no—and here is the test result to prove it.

Compostable Bags vs Biodegradable Bags—Same Confusion as Tableware

The biodegradable vs compostable bags question is the same trap as tableware:

  • Biodegradable plastic bags: vague claim, no defined time, no certification. Some “oxo-degradable” bags fragment into microplastic rather than fully break down.
  • Compostable bags: certified to EN 13432 / ASTM D6400, break down in an industrial facility within a defined window, and leave no toxic residue.
  • Biodegradable vs compostable garbage bags: same logic—compostable is the certified claim; biodegradable tells you nothing defensible.
  • Biodegradable vs compostable poop bags: buyers of pet-waste bags specifically want certified compostable so the bag breaks down with the waste in a composter.

For any of these, ask for the certificate before you buy. A “biodegradable” claim on a plastic bag is frequently marketing, not material science.

How to Verify PFAS-Free & Compostable Claims

  • Ask for the test report—specifically fluorine screening or QTOF analysis for PFAS
  • Ask for the compostability certificate (EN 13432, ASTM D6400, BPI, OK Compost) and the lab that issued it
  • Check the standard’s scope—industrial vs home compostable are different
  • Ask about clamshells and coated paper, too—PFAS hides in greaseproof liners as often as in bags
  • Get it in writing that the product carries no PFAS in the contact layer

Why Clean, Certified Bags Are a Selling Point

Retailers and food brands are now running their own PFAS checks on incoming packaging. If you can hand them a PFAS-free certificate plus a compostability certificate, you win the order and keep it. If your supplier cannot do both, that is a risk you inherit.

Buy Bags With the Paperwork, Not Just a Logo

Request our PFAS-free confirmation and compostability certificates together, and we will quote commercial or retail bag volumes with real lead times. Request PFAS-free compostable bag pricing and test reports or email sales@bagassepackco.com.

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