Beyond Recyclability: Why PFAS-Free Is the New Standard

Beyond Recyclability: Why PFAS-Free Is the New Standard

Safe for Food, Safe for Earth: The Move to PFAS-Free Packaging

For years, the "green" packaging industry harbored a dirty secret: PFAS. To achieve grease and water resistance, many legacy fiber and paperboard packages relied on these so‑called "forever chemicals"—substances that persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms.

Today, the landscape has changed. With enforcement of laws like California SB‑343 ("Truth in Labeling") and increasingly stringent EPA guidelines, PFAS‑laden packaging is no longer legally viable or consumer‑acceptable. Compostable is no longer enough; packaging must be fundamentally non‑toxic.

Consumers, brands, and regulators now expect packaging that is:

• PFAS‑free and non‑toxic
• Accurately labeled and compliant with emerging regulations
• Truly circular, without hidden plastics or persistent chemicals

The RENW Standard

RENW has engineered a new standard for food‑safe barrier technology. Our molded fiber utilizes proprietary organic, plant‑based coatings that provide elite oxygen and water vapor transmission resistance (OTR/WVTR) without a drop of plastic or forever chemicals.

Instead of relying on fluorinated compounds or plastic liners, our barrier system is built from renewable, bio‑based ingredients designed to perform in demanding food applications while remaining compatible with paper recycling and home composting.

Validated Safety

Our products are:

• Validated PFAS‑free through third‑party analytical testing
• Strictly compliant with FDA and BfR food‑contact standards
• Aligned with EU Regulation 1935/2004 for materials intended to come into contact with food

This means our packaging is engineered not only for performance, but for regulatory durability across major global markets.

Clean Manufacturing

RENW products are manufactured in BRCGS (AA+ rated) and ISO 9001 certified facilities, ensuring robust quality management and food‑safety systems.

We use virgin industrial hemp and wood fibers, creating a clean, traceable fiber loop that is:

• Free from the legacy chemicals often found in recycled cardboard
• Consistent in performance and appearance
• Optimized for food‑contact safety from the start of the value chain

True Circularity

Most fiber packaging that relies on plastic liners, PFAS, or other toxic additives is only partially recyclable—and often contaminates recycling and composting streams.

By avoiding hybrid plastic liners and toxic additives, RENW packaging:

• Breaks down entirely in standard paper pulpers
• Is safe for home composting under typical conditions
• Supports high‑value fiber recovery without introducing persistent chemicals

This is true circularity: materials that safely cycle between use, recovery, and regeneration without leaving behind harmful residues.

The New Baseline for Food Packaging

PFAS‑free is no longer a niche differentiator; it is rapidly becoming the baseline expectation for responsible food packaging.

RENW’s molded fiber solutions are designed for brands that want to:

• Protect consumers with unconditionally safe food‑contact materials
• Stay ahead of evolving regulations and retailer requirements
• Demonstrate authentic sustainability—beyond recyclability claims and greenwashing

Choose packaging that is unconditionally safe for the food it carries, the consumers who use it, and the earth it returns to.