Better Earth Food Packaging and PFAS
Recent news has led to growing awareness, concern and confusion about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a general class of more than 5,000 chemicals that make compostable foodservice packaging grease and water-resistant.
We hear and share these concerns.
We take our responsibility as environmental stewards very seriously and will always put human health and safety, environmental standards and regulations first and foremost. We are proud to share that today our products meet or exceed the FDA’s most current regulations on PFAS, and more specifically, Better Earth does not use any of the three long-chain PFAS compounds (C8 or greater) prohibited by the FDA’s 21 code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R) Part 176.
In this post, we’d like to elaborate further on what PFAS are, how regulations are changing, and how we’re addressing this evolving challenge.
What are PFAS?
PFAS chemicals were first introduced in the 1940s because of their ability to resist heat, grease, stains and water. Today, they are ubiquitous: you can expect to find PFAS chemicals in an overwhelming variety of products ranging from nonstick cooking pans to firefighting foams, carpets, and in pizza boxes and other foodservice packaging.
We’ve differentiated the two main classes of PFAS, long chain and short chain, below:
Short Chain: A select class of PFAS substances deemed safe for food contact by the FDA after rigorous and extensive scientific testing. A robust body of scientific research demonstrates this class does not pose a significant risk to human health or the environment. However, Better Earth continues to advocate for further research into the potential impacts of these chemicals and is actively phasing them out of our products in search of alternatives that meet our standards for safety and sustainability.
Long Chain: Prohibited by the FDA’s 21 code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R) Part 176 due to their potential for long-term health impacts and persistence in the environment and our bodies. Better Earth does not and will never use Long Chain PFAS.
There is now growing concern about the persistence of both short-chain and long-chain PFAS chemicals in our environment, meaning their ability to remain intact for extensive periods of time.
What’s Next and How We’re Taking Action
Starting January 1, 2020, all BPI-certified products must have less than 100 parts per million (ppm) of fluorine and cannot contain any intentionally added fluorinated chemicals.
We are working diligently across our supply chain and with industry partners to align ourselves with these new standards. This includes regular monitoring and testing, which is core to our commitment to safe and sustainable foodservice packaging. Between November 2018 and June 2019, certified third-party laboratories conducted three random PFA assessments on all of our product categories, with all results meeting and exceeding FDA requirements. In addition to exceeding these FDA requirements, we continue to collaborate with BPI and other accredited third-party organizations to ensure we remain ahead of future evolutions of PFAS regulations and standards for compostability.
Below is the most recent timeline and information for third party certification.
September 30, 2019: BPI notifies companies of test results. For passing results of less than 100 ppm, BPI coordinates with the company to ensure the statement “no fluorinated chemicals have been intentionally added” is listed on any of their BPI-certified products.
December 31, 2019: Companies to confirm that inventory with over 100 ppm will no longer be labeled or marketed as BPI-certified, and failure to comply will result in legal action.
January 1, 2020: All BPI-certified products must have less than 100 ppm of safe FDA-approved fluorine and not contain any intentionally added fluorinated chemicals. Better Earth has submitted all our independent third-party ASTM and BPI-certified lab results to BPI.
In Conclusion
Better Earth is truly thankful for opportunities like this to further ensure our products fulfill their purpose of providing sustainable alternatives for foodservice packaging that address our insurmountable plastic pollution crisis. We will continue to work across our supply chain and with industry partners to regularly monitor fluorochemicals; research and study the science behind the chemicals; work with independent third-parties for testing of our products and processes; and make investments in new innovative technologies.
Thank you for your partnership and trust in Better Earth’s sustainable and healthy food service packaging solutions.
―Joseph Bild
President & Managing Partner
Looking Back on Better Earth Climate Week
Did you know that the world’s food system is estimated to be responsible for one-quarter of the greenhouse gases humans generate each year?But every problem presents an even greater opportunity. We believe food, and the value chain surrounding it, is our silver bullet...
Tune in to Better Earth Climate Week!
Food is central to just about everything – climate change included. In fact, the world’s food system is estimated to be responsible for one-quarter of the greenhouse gases humans generate each year.But every problem presents an even greater opportunity, and we believe...
Better Earth Featured in Oceanic COVID-19 Reopening Guidelines
We know foodservice operators are facing painful decisions right now as they explore reopening, including fear of forgoing sustainability commitments to comply with ever-evolving reopening guidelines.No one should have to choose between health and safety or saving the...
Join us in Celebrating World Oceans Day
Water is life, and it’s true. Our planet is 71% water, and similarly, up to 60% of the human body is too. And yet, the bodies of water we depend upon are being suffocated by the roughly 8 million metric tons of plastic dumped into our oceans every year. By 2050,...
COVID-19 and Our Unwavering Commitment to You
We are more committed than ever to our shared vision of a better, more sustainable earth, and the health and safety of our entire team, customers and community. We would like to update you on how we continue to live and breathe these commitments. We are in...
An Unforgettable Earth Day
On this 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, we, like so many others, wanted to have a shiny thing to share with you.I mean, our entire mission is to create a better earth, right? And in fact, for the last year we’ve worked tirelessly and passionately to make that happen,...
Supporting Your Local Restaurants
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses large and small alike are having to close their doors permanently. As a growing business ourselves, we’re extremely sympathetic to all the closures we’re seeing - especially our friends in the restaurant business! ...
6 Easy Steps for Safely Ordering Takeout During COVID-19
Right now, ordering food to be delivered can seem a little scary. We’ve done our research, and we’ve created a quick guide of 6 Easy Steps of How to Safely Order Food Delivery Online you can reference, so you can feel secure when ordering your go-to burrito combo....
Let’s Get Sustainable Packaging to Those That Need It Most
Better Earth launches a sustainable packaging relief program in partnership with the Georgia Restaurant Association.COVID-19 is spreading rampantly around the world and the restaurant industry has been deeply affected. We know restaurants are facing painful decisions...
Soil, Compost and Compostables: What‘s the Connection?
December 5th is World Soil Day, and we hope you’ll join us in raising awareness about a story not told often enough: our soil’s unmatched power to feed and save our planet. At Better Earth, we recognize that our soil is in a dire state. Rapid...
Better Earth & Captain Planet Foundation Call on Kids to Redesign the School Lunch Tray
We believe that we do not inherit the Earth. We borrow it from our children. And if we want to protect the environment for future generations, we must act on plastic pollution. Schools are a great place to start. Join the School Tray Design Challenge! Click...
DIY: Build Your Own Backyard Composter in 10 Minutes
It’s spooky season and we think it’s about time one creepy crawler gets the love it deserves: the worm. So, for one afternoon, forget the haunted house and late-night thrillers and take 10 minutes to build the compost bin of your dreams – powered entirely by worms....
Welcome to our new office!
This September marked a milestone for the Better Earth family. In our continued pursuit to walk the talk on sustainability, we redesigned our Clarkston, Georgia office to further embody our mission, values and environmental goals. We’re excited to give you a sneak...
Better Earth Sponsors Hyper-Local Food Festival AgLanta Eats
This July, Better Earth was proud to serve as a Community Sponsor for the hyper-local food festival AgLanta Eats and, through our 100% compostable products, help them meet their zero waste goals. This annual event raises funds for the AgLanta Grows A-Lot program,...
Let’s Walk the Talk: Better Earth & the #PlasticFreeJuly Challenge
Let’s face it – plastic is everywhere: our hospitals, homes and grocery aisles, as well as our rivers, streams and -- thanks to the proliferation of microplastics -- our stomachs too. By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. My name is Savannah...