L.L.Bean Review, Is L.L.Bean Non-Toxic?
Across 19 graded products, L.L.Bean averages Poor (44/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 1 of its products grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Does L.L.Bean have PFAS, by category
Worth buying from L.L.Bean Good or better, best-graded first
L.L.Bean
Casco Bay Cushion
Outdoor cushion cover; likely polyester, acrylic, or solution-dyed synthetic fabric with unknown water-repellent finish
PFAS
Standard outdoor cushion covers are treated with water-repellent coatings; L.L.Bean has…
Polyester microfiber shedding
Synthetic outdoor cushion covers shed microfibers with weathering and washing. Shed…
Off-gassing from synthetic fabric and finish
New synthetic outdoor cushion covers may emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the…
Outdoor cushion likely treated with water-repellent finish; ask L.L.Bean for safety details.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
L.L.Bean
Men's L.L.Bean Comfort Stretch Long Sleeve Oxford Shirt
Cotton blend with elastane, no stated finish
Heavy metals
The shirt's navy or other dyed finish involves synthetic dyes that may contain trace…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Cotton-elastane blends sometimes receive formaldehyde-based wrinkle-resistant or…
Degradation of elastane over time
Elastane fibers naturally break down with UV exposure, chlorine, and repeated washing…
Allergenic or irritant dyes and finishes
Fragrance compounds, optical brighteners, and certain reactive dyes can trigger skin…
Lower concern basic oxford shirt, no waterproof finish applied.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
L.L.Bean
Waxed Canvas Duffle Bag
Waxed canvas with wax finish
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Canvas dyeing and wax-finish setting may involve formaldehyde resins or azo dyes…
Wax finish composition uncertainty
While traditional paraffin and beeswax are low-hazard, the exact formulation (whether…
Bacterial or mold growth in damp storage
Waxed canvas is water-resistant but not waterproof; if stored wet or in high-humidity…
Synthetic sizing residues in canvas weave
Canvas manufacturing may leave starch or synthetic size compounds in the weave to aid…
Lower concern. Traditional wax finish unlikely to contain PFAS, but check with brand.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
L.L.Bean
Waxed Canvas Duffle
Waxed canvas with wax finish
Azo dyes (skin sensitizers and potential carcinogens)
Canvas may be dyed with azo or other synthetic dyes before waxing. L.L.Bean does not…
Metal hardware corrosion and leaching
Duffles typically include metal zippers, buckles, or D-rings. L.L.Bean does not disclose…
Lower concern. Waxed canvas uses a non-fluorinated coating for water resistance.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
L.L.Bean
Women's L.L.Bean Soft Washed Tencel Utility Shirt Clothing
Tencel (lyocell) fabric, soft washed finish
Heavy metals
The shirt's dye source and heavy metal content (lead, cadmium) are not disclosed by…
Residual dye bleed or allergen migration on skin contact
Soft-washed garments may retain loose dye particles. Pre-wash before wearing reduces the…
Lower concern. Tencel is an inherently safer fiber without known PFAS.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
L.L.Bean
Men's L.L. Bean Shirts Ll Bean Premium Double L Polo
cotton pique blend
Azo dyes
Cotton pique polos typically use reactive or disperse dyes for color fastness. While azo…
Antimony in polyester component
Antimony trioxide is a common catalyst in polyester production. In a 25-40% polyester…
Residual processing chemicals and oils
New apparel routinely contains machine oils, sizing agents, and fabric softeners from…
Heavy metals
Some dark-colored cotton garments use pigments containing lead or cadmium, though…
Lower concern. Standard cotton polo lacks water repellency treatment.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
L.L.Bean
Mountain Classic Cordura Duffle
Cordura nylon with water-repellent coating
PFAS
Cordura duffels with water-repellent coating finishes almost universally use…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Some industrial nylon finishing processes use formaldehyde-releasing resins for wrinkle…
Nylon degradation and microplastic shedding
All nylon textiles shed microfibers when abraded or washed. Cordura's high tenacity makes…
water-repellent coating deterioration and re-coating temptation
After 3-5 years, Cordura water-repellent coating coatings visibly degrade and water…
Cordura duffle likely has water-repellent coating treatment.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean
Adventure Duffle
Ballistic nylon with water-repellent coating
water-repellent coating degradation and dermal contact
PFAS-based water-repellent coating coatings shed small amounts of chemical into dust and…
Off-gassing or odor from synthetic materials
New ballistic nylon products may emit mild odors typical of polyamide production…
Microplastic shedding during use
Ballistic nylon is a synthetic textile and will shed microfibers during abrasion and…
water-repellent coating-treated duffle.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean
Fishing Boat Bag
Canvas with water-resistant treatment
PFAS
Canvas water-repellent treatment is unspecified by L.L.Bean. Conventional…
Coating degradation and particle shedding
Canvas water-resistant coatings degrade with age and use, potentially releasing…
Off-gassing or odor from new treatment
New canvas bags can emit mild chemical odors from water-repellent coatings; this…
Waterproofing creates PFAS uncertainty.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean
Adventure Rolling Duffle Bag
Polyester/nylon with water-repellent coating water-resistant treatment
PFAS
If L.L.Bean has switched to PFAS-free water-repellent coating chemistry (e.g., silicone…
VOC off-gassing from fabric and adhesives
New synthetic luggage may emit low levels of volatile organic compounds from factory…
Rolling duffle likely has water-repellent coating.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean
Wharf Street Weekender Tote
Canvas tote with water-resistant treatment
PFAS
Canvas water-resistance treatments almost universally contain fluorinated compounds…
Azo dyes in cotton fabric
No dyestuff certification (e.g., OEKO-TEX) is stated for this tote. Conventional cotton…
Coating degradation and microfiber release
As fluorinated finishes wear, microscopic fibers and coating fragments can shed into…
Off-gassing from synthetic additives
Fluorinated coatings and any sizing agents in untreated canvas may release volatile…
Canvas bag likely treated.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean
Casco Bay All-Weather Armless/Folding Chair Cushion, Stripe
Outdoor polyester blend cushion with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
PFAS
The water-repellent coating finish chemistry is undisclosed. Outdoor polyester cushions…
Polyester microfiber shedding
Outdoor polyester blends can shed microfibers into soil and rinse water over time…
Mold or bacterial growth in storage
Outdoor cushions stored damp or in humid conditions can harbor mold. The water-repellent…
Avoid until L.L.Bean reveals the water-repellent coating formula.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean
Casco Bay All-Weather Garden Bench Cushion
Polyester cushion cover with water-resistant treatment
PFAS
Polyester cushion covers almost universally receive water-repellent coating treatment for…
Polyester fiber shedding and microfiber release
Extended outdoor weathering, UV exposure, and abrasion can degrade polyester fibers…
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from coatings
New cushions may off-gas low levels of VOCs from the water-repellent coating or finishing…
Mold and bacterial growth if cushion retained moisture
If the water-resistant coating degrades or if cushions are stored damp, polyester padding…
Avoid or contact L.L.Bean directly; outdoor cushion coatings commonly use PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean
All-Weather Folding Armless Chair Cushion
Polyester cushion with water-resistant treatment
PFAS
L.L.Bean does not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry. PFAS-based water-repellent…
Polyester microfiber shedding during degradation
Outdoor UV exposure, weathering, and abrasion cause polyester fabric to fragment into…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester cushions sometimes use formaldehyde-based resins in wrinkle-resistance or…
Avoid until L.L.Bean discloses the water-resistant coating formula.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean
Casco Bay All-Weather Folding/Armless Chair Cushion
Polyester blend cushion with water-repellent coating water/stain-resistant finish
PFAS
The undisclosed water-resistant treatment is the primary concern. Legacy perfluorinated…
Microplastic shedding during washing
Polyester textiles shed microfibers when laundered. While this is not a direct health…
Avoid until L.L.Bean explains the water-resistant coating type.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean
Sunbrella Adirondack Chair Seat Cushion
Sunbrella acrylic fabric with proprietary water-repellent coating finish
PFAS
Sunbrella's proprietary water-repellent treatment is not publicly tested or certified…
Mildew and bacterial growth during storage
Even mildew-resistant acrylic can support fungal growth if stored damp. Ensure cushion is…
Foam core degradation and breakdown
The inner foam cushion (typically polyurethane or polyester blend, composition not…
Avoid or contact L.L.Bean directly; Sunbrella's PFAS status is unclear.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean
Casco Bay All-Weather Folding/Armless Chair Cushion
Polyester/acrylic blend with water-repellent coating water-resistant finish
PFAS
Undisclosed water-resistant finish likely contains either legacy PFAS (PFOA) or newer…
UV stability and photodegradation
Polyester-acrylic blends are moderately UV-resistant but will fade and weaken over 3-5…
Avoid until L.L.Bean discloses the coating or verifies PFAS-free.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean
Casco Bay Adirondack Chair Seat and Back Cushion
Polyester fabric with water/stain-resistant treatment
PFAS
Virtually all outdoor cushion fabrics with water-resistant finish use PFAS-based…
Polyester microfiber shedding under friction
Polyester outdoor cushions can shed microfibers, especially where fabric rubs against…
Flame retardants
Outdoor furniture cushions in North America often contain flame retardants to meet…
Volatilization or leaching from finish during heat or moisture exposure
Water-repellent chemical finishes can degrade over time when exposed to UV, heat, and…
Avoid or contact L.L.Bean directly; outdoor cushion likely uses PFAS-based finish.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean
Kids' L.L.Bean Multisport Joggers
polyester/cotton blend with water-repellent coating finish
Antimony in polyester
Antimony is a manufacturing catalyst for polyester; residual levels in finished fabrics…
PFAS
L.L.Bean has not disclosed the chemistry of the water-repellent coating treatment on…
Azo dyes or non-substantive dyes
Polyester/cotton blend fabrics in retail joggers may use conventional dyes; no evidence…
Degradation of water-repellent coating over washing
water-repellent coating finishes on polyester garments degrade with repeated laundering…
No PFAS disclosure. Joggers likely treated with water-repellent coating, source unknown.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
L.L.Bean and PFAS, common questions
- Does L.L.Bean have PFAS?
- We graded 19 L.L.Bean products, averaging Poor (44/100). 1 grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests.
- Is L.L.Bean non-toxic?
- L.L.Bean Casco Bay Cushion is the highest-graded L.L.Bean product we have scored, at 75/100. It depends on the product line rather than the brand, so check the grade of the exact item you are buying.
- Which L.L.Bean products are lower concern for PFAS?
- The highest-graded L.L.Bean products we have scored are L.L.Bean Casco Bay Cushion. That is our model-based estimate from materials and public disclosure, not a lab test.
- Which L.L.Bean products should I avoid?
- The lowest-graded L.L.Bean products we have scored are Kids' L.L.Bean Multisport Joggers, L.L.Bean Casco Bay Adirondack Chair Seat and Back Cushion, L.L.Bean Casco Bay All-Weather Folding/Armless Chair Cushion. Each one links to the evidence behind its grade.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →