Sweetgreen has announced that it is phasing out per- and polyfluroalkyl substances (PFAs) in its bowls by the end of the year. Sweetgreen has partnered with Footprint on an alternative and has begun using the new bowls in San Francisco. PFAs chemicals are found in food-contact materials used for packaging and can contaminate the food that it touches. PFAs are known as the “forever chemicals” because if the chemicals end up in compost, they typically last for a long period of time and end up in soil, water and other food. PFAs have been linked to a variety of health problems such as thyroid disease and cancer. 

Footprint has 16 patent documents in the biodegradable packaging sector with a majority of the documents focused on methods and apparatus for manufacturing fiber-based meat containers.