US food chain Sweetgreen plans to roll out its new PFAS-free biodegradable food bowls nationwide by the end of 2020.
The company told Chemical Watch that, in January, it partnered with food packaging technology firm Footprint to pilot compostable, PFAS-free bowls in its San Francisco stores, and will continue to roll them out across the country this year.
The move comes after non-profit media outlet, the Counter – formerly The New Food Economy – released the results of a study it carried out into compostable bowls commonly used to serve food.
This claimed that bowls it tested from Sweetgreen, as well as other food outlets –including Chipotle and DIG – contained levels of fluorine that “can only be achieved through intentional PFAS treatment”.
PFASs – perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals – are used in a huge range of consumer products and packaging for their resistance to grease, oil, water and heat. The chemical class has been under regulatory scrutiny in many countries and regions, including the US and EU.
Some PFASs, such as PFOA and PFOS, have been found to remain in people for long periods of time and cause adverse health effects. They are also ubiquitous in the environment and have been known to contaminate water supplies.
This year, at least 13 states will specifically consider policy that would eliminate or reduce PFASs in food packaging, according to an analysis released last month by US NGO Safer States.
California’s Department of Toxic Substances (DTSC) has identified PFASs in food packaging as a potential priority product candidate under its Safer Consumer Products programme.
Washington state and Maine have taken action on PFASs in food packaging under their chemicals programmes, while San Francisco’s ban on the sale or use of single-use food service-ware containing PFASs took effect on 1 January.
Last year a bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives to ban PFASs in food packaging.
Other food chains, such as Taco Bell, Trader Joe’s and Ahold Delhaize, have also made PFAS phase-out commitments.
Erika Schreder, science director of NGO Toxic-Free Future, said of Sweetgreen’s commitment: “The trend to ban PFAS in food packaging is expected to continue and it makes a lot of sense for companies to commit to safer alternatives and get ahead of the curve now.”
Mike Schade, campaign director of NGO Mind the Store, welcomed Sweetgreen’s goal, saying that “these bowls are used once, but the chemicals can last forever”.
“This new commitment will help drive PFAS out of the fast-casual food industry. Other top food chains should join them in banning these forever chemicals in food packaging.”