How to Vet an Overseas Eco-Friendly Packaging Manufacturer: A 12-Point Audit Checklist

Why an overseas packaging supplier needs a documented audit

An audit tells you who actually makes your packaging and whether the environmental and food-safety claims printed on it can be proven. Without it, you carry the risk of a claim you cannot substantiate under the FTC Green Guides or a state PFAS law.

Many "eco-friendly" catalogs are assembled from several factories. A trading company can be a good partner, but it should name the factory behind each item and pass on that factory's documents. The checklist works for manufacturers, sourcing partners and distributors alike.

The 12-point checklist at a glance

Direct Eco Green selects and audits its own partner factories, and the table below lists the 12 points a buyer should check with any supplier, including us: what to request, how to verify it and the warning signs.

Points 1 to 3: legal entity, factory identity and FSC certificate

Start with identity: confirm the company exists, that you know which factory produces each item, and that any FSC claim is backed by a valid license you have checked yourself.

1. Business license and legal entity

Ask for the business registration of the entity that will invoice you; its name and address should match the quote, contract and bank account. Direct Eco Green, for example, invoices through Cong Ty TNHH Direct Eco Green Co. Ltd in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, or Direct Eco Green Pte. Ltd in Singapore.

2. Manufacturer vs distributor

Ask which factory makes each item and in which country. A video call on the production floor, a visit or a third-party factory audit confirms it. ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 certificates, where they exist, signal documented processes.

3. FSC certificate

For paper and board, ask for the FSC license code and check it on info.fsc.org. Look at the certificate holder's name, its status and its scope: the product type you buy should be covered. Direct Eco Green's FSC license code is C204557, with FSC Mix and FSC Recycled labels available on paper and board products.

Points 4 to 7: compostability, food contact, PFAS and recycled content

For food packaging, these four documents carry most of the regulatory risk: each one must name the exact material and, ideally, the exact product reference.

4. Compostable certification (BPI / ASTM D6400 / ASTM D6868)

If you plan to print "compostable," US buyers expect certification to ASTM D6400 (compostable plastics) or ASTM D6868 (compostable coatings on paper or fiber), typically through BPI; Canada uses CAN/BNQ 0017-088. Search BPI's public product listing for the certificate holder and the exact product. A certificate for a different item from the same factory does not cover yours.

5. Food-contact compliance letter

Ask for a letter stating that the materials in contact with food comply with the applicable FDA regulations under 21 CFR, or are covered by a Food Contact Notification, for the intended use (hot, cold, fatty foods). In Canada, Health Canada's Letter of No Objection program for packaging materials is voluntary, so ask whether one exists rather than assuming it.

6. PFAS test report

Intentionally added PFAS are banned in food packaging by state laws in New York, California, Washington, Vermont, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Hawaii. Ask for a lab report on total organic fluorine and a statement that no PFAS are intentionally added. BPI's own rule is a useful benchmark: certified products need a BPI-approved lab test showing 100 ppm total organic fluorine or less. Ask what provides the grease barrier: molded fiber, PE or PLA film, or an aqueous coating. See our guide to state PFAS laws.

7. Recycled-content evidence

A recycled-content claim needs a chain-of-custody certificate such as GRS (Global Recycled Standard) or RCS. For food-contact recycled plastic such as rPET, ask whether the recycling process is covered by an FDA No Objection Letter. Our rPET guide explains why.

Points 8 and 9: social audit and environmental claims

A social audit shows how the factory treats its workers, and an artwork review makes sure the claims printed on your packaging are ones you can defend.

8. Social audit

Ask for a recent report from a recognized scheme such as SMETA (Sedex) or amfori BSCI, and read the findings and corrective actions, not just the cover page.

9. Claims and artwork review

Review every claim on the artwork before printing. Under the FTC Green Guides, "compostable" must be qualified where composting facilities are not available to a substantial majority of consumers, and unqualified "biodegradable" claims are generally not supportable for items that end up in landfill. In California, SB 343 restricts the chasing-arrows symbol and "recyclable" claims from October 4, 2026 to materials that meet state recyclability criteria. More detail in recyclable vs compostable claims.

Points 10 to 12: samples, inspection and Incoterms

The last three points protect the order itself: approve a sample, inspect production against it, and put responsibilities in writing.

10. Samples

Test pre-production samples in real use (hot and greasy food, stacking, lids, print) and keep one approved sample as the inspection reference.

11. Pre-shipment inspection

Before final payment, have your team or a third-party inspector check quantity, dimensions, print, packing and defects against the approved sample.

12. Incoterms and quote terms

Ask for the Incoterm (EXW, FOB, CIF or DDP) on every quote. It defines who pays freight, insurance and duties, and who carries the risk. Confirm the MOQ, payment terms and who acts as importer of record; have a licensed customs broker confirm the classification and duty.

How Direct Eco Green handles a buyer's audit

Direct Eco Green, a factory-direct manufacturer of eco-friendly packaging, works through selected and audited partner factories in Vietnam, China, India, Turkey, Bulgaria and Spain, and supports buyers with the regulatory documents each reference needs. You can use this checklist with us as with any other supplier.

• A tailored quote within 48 hours, stating the MOQ for each item.
• Samples before mass production, and on-site quality control close to the factories in Vietnam.
• FSC license C204557, which you can check on info.fsc.org.
• Compostable certification: tell us which certification your market requires and we confirm, before you order, which factory reference can document it.
• PFAS: we request the factory's PFAS declaration with your quote and tell you what provides the grease barrier.

Browse the catalog, for example bagasse plates and trays or kraft burger boxes, then send your audit list through the contact form.

Sources

• BPI: Fluorinated chemicals policy for certified compostable products
• FDA: PFAS used as grease-proofing agents in food packaging no longer being sold in the US
• PFAS in food packaging: state compliance guide
• FTC: Environmental claims, summary of the Green Guides
• California SB 343 restrictions effective October 4, 2026