Why PFAS is being removed
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were widely used to give paper and board grease and oil resistance — burger wraps, takeaway boxes, microwave popcorn bags, pet-food bags. Because PFAS are persistent ("forever chemicals") and migrate into food, regulators acted. By early 2024 the US FDA confirmed that manufacturers had stopped selling PFAS grease-proofing agents into the US market, and in 2025 a set of PFAS food-contact notifications were declared no longer effective. Several US states (California, New York, Washington and others) have their own bans. The EU is tightening too. The result: brands and converters need PFAS-free grease barriers now.
What a replacement has to deliver
- Grease & oil resistance — the core job (often measured by the Kit test)
- Water resistance — for many foodservice uses
- Food-contact compliance — FDA / EU
- Ideally: recyclable or compostable — to satisfy PPWR and brand goals
- Drop-in — works on existing paper and coating lines
The main PFAS alternatives
| Alternative | Pros | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
| Bio-based / nanocellulose coatings | PFAS-free, can be plastic-free & compostable, good grease + oxygen barrier | Newer; confirm barrier & cost |
| PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol) coatings | Good barrier, established | Water-sensitive; not always compostable |
| Silicone / wax coatings | Cheap, grease resistant | Wax limits recyclability; silicone repulpability varies |
| Acrylic / dispersion coatings | Scalable on existing lines | Often contain plastic; recyclability/compostability varies |
| PLA / PHA laminations | Bio-based | Lamination, cost, barrier & compost conditions |
Big paper companies already offer PFAS-free grease-resistant papers (for example fluorine-free greaseproof technologies from established mills). The gap is often for mid-size converters and mills that don't have their own PFAS-free coating technology — and for brands that want genuinely compostable, plastic-free options rather than just "no PFAS."
Where nanocellulose coatings fit
A nanocellulose-based barrier coating is applied to ordinary paper to give grease, oil and water resistance — without PFAS and without a plastic (PE) layer. Because it is fully bio-based, it can be designed to be compostable, which most fluorochemical and plastic alternatives are not. ZnoNova Biopack's biomass coating liquid is exactly this: a PFAS-free, plastic-free coating supplied to mills and converters to apply on their own lines. See PFAS-free greaseproof paper options and PE-free paper coating.
How to choose — a short checklist
- Grease/oil: what Kit level do you need? Confirm test data.
- Recyclability/compostability: does it have to be compostable (EN13432 / BPI) or just recyclable? Plastic-containing coatings usually fail compost certification.
- Food contact: FDA / EU documentation.
- Line fit & cost: can it run on your existing coater, and at what coat weight/cost?
- PFAS proof: a TOF / PFAS test report.
Need a PFAS-free, compostable grease barrier?
Request a sample of our nanocellulose coating liquid and the test data — apply it on your own line.
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Frequently asked questions
What replaces PFAS in food packaging?
PFAS grease-proofing is being replaced by PFAS-free barrier coatings: bio-based / nanocellulose coatings, PVOH, silicone/wax, dispersion coatings, and PLA/PHA laminations. Bio-based nanocellulose coatings stand out because they can be PFAS-free, plastic-free and compostable while still giving grease, oil and water resistance.
Is there a PFAS-free greaseproof that is also compostable?
Yes. A fully bio-based nanocellulose coating can be PFAS-free and designed to be compostable, unlike many plastic- or wax-based alternatives. Confirm compostability certification status (EN13432 / BPI) for on-pack claims.
How do I verify a coating is really PFAS-free?
Request a total-organic-fluorine (TOF) screening or targeted PFAS analysis, plus a "no intentionally added PFAS" declaration. This is the practical evidence buyers now ask for.
※ General technical information on PFAS alternatives in food packaging. ZnoNova Biopack performance figures are tested values; environmental claims (compostable / PFAS-free) are supported by testing/certification that is available or in progress — confirm current status before on-pack claims.