Sears Review, Is Sears Non-Toxic?
Across 4 graded products, Sears averages Good (55/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. None of its products grade Good or better yet. 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.
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Sears
Justice Girls School Uniform Polo Shirt
Cotton or cotton-blend polo shirt
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Mass-market cotton-blend school wear often uses formaldehyde-based durable-press or…
Azo dyes and colorfast residues
Polos are typically solid-dyed; azo dyes (some of which can degrade to carcinogenic…
Antimony in polyester component
If the blend contains polyester (likely in 65/35 or similar blends), antimony trioxide…
Allergic sensitization from dyes or finishes
Children with sensitive skin may react to residual dye or finish chemicals, particularly…
Lower concern. Plain polo unlikely to have PFAS treatments.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Sears
Port Authority Girls Silk Touch Peter Pan Collar Polo YG503
100% polyester, silk-touch finish
Azo dyes and colorfast stability
Polyester polos are often dyed with acid or disperse dyes. While azo dyes are restricted…
Antimony in polyester fiber
Antimony is used as a catalyst in polyester synthesis and remains in the finished fiber…
Lower concern. Basic polyester polo with no water-repellent treatment.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Sears
Port Authority Y540 Youth Silk Touch Performance Polo
polyester blend performance knit
Antimony in polyester
Antimony compounds are used as catalysts in polyester synthesis. This polo's polyester…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
The 'Silk Touch' finish may involve formaldehyde-based or formaldehyde-releasing resins…
Microplastic shedding during wash
Polyester garments shed microfibers in the washing machine. This polo's risk is typical…
Lower concern. Basic synthetic blend with no water-repellent coating treatment disclosed.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Sears
Port Authority Men's Easy Care Shirt Long Sleeve
cotton blend with stain/wrinkle-resistant treatment
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Cotton-polyester blends treated for wrinkle resistance frequently contain…
PFAS
The 'stain-resistant' finish is typically a fluorocarbon PFAS compound (e.g., PFOA…
Azo dyes (if dark-colored)
Port Authority work shirts, if navy, black, or deep colors, may use azo dyes that cleave…
Coating degradation and particulate shedding
Durability-focused finishes on budget apparel sometimes shed microparticulate finish…
Skip until full ingredient disclosure provided on treatment
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Sears and PFAS, common questions
- Does Sears have PFAS?
- We graded 4 Sears products, averaging Good (55/100). None grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests.
- Is Sears non-toxic?
- No Sears product we graded reaches Good. The best of them is Justice Girls School Uniform Polo Shirt at 65/100.
- Which Sears products should I avoid?
- The lowest-graded Sears products we have scored are Port Authority Men's Easy Care Shirt Long Sleeve, Port Authority Y540 Youth Silk Touch Performance Polo, Port Authority Girls Silk Touch Peter Pan Collar Polo YG503. Each one links to the evidence behind its grade.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →