Carhartt · Scrubs & Work Uniforms
Carhartt RSCU Half Zip
Skip until Carhartt discloses water-repellent coating chemistry or seeks certification.
Carhartt RSCU half-zip is a polyester fleece with water-repellent finish, typical for outdoor workwear. Carhartt provides no PFAS disclosure or third-party verification of the water-repellent coating treatment.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
polyester blend with water-repellent coating (unspecified)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
What Carhartt RSCU Half Zip is made of, ingredients and materials
The RSCU is a polyester blend with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating applied to the surface. water-repellent coating coatings are typically fluorochemical-based, meaning they likely contain PFAS or related fluorinated compounds, though Carhartt has not publicly specified the chemistry. Polyester itself is stable in normal use, but the water-repellent coating finish is the chemical concern, it sits on the garment surface and can degrade, shed, or leach with washing and wear. Without transparency on whether this is PFAS-free or certified low-PFAS, the coating composition remains a blind spot.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Carhartt has not disclosed water-repellent coating chemistry. Unspecified fluorochemical coatings on workwear are typically PFAS. Risk is skin contact during wear and environmental release during washing; no public test data on this specific product.
Source, ATSDR ↗Antimony in polyester fiber
Polyester production can involve antimony trioxide as a catalyst; residual traces may remain in finished fabric. Levels are typically below health thresholds in normal wear, but no specific testing of Carhartt textiles for antimony has been publicly reported.
water-repellent coating degradation and microfiber shedding
Worn water-repellent coating coatings can shed particles into wastewater during washing. While this affects most water-repellent coating garments, the lack of Carhartt's commitment to low-impact alternatives means no independent verification that this product minimizes shedding over its lifecycle.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester blends can carry formaldehyde-based resins for wrinkle resistance or durability. No recalls or reported issues specific to Carhartt RSCU; standard polyester finishes pose minimal risk after initial off-gassing from factory to retail.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
No public test data or recalls linking Carhartt workwear to restricted azo dyes or cadmium/lead in dyes. Standard polyester dyeing is controlled by U.S. import regulations, but Carhartt's specific dye sources and testing are not disclosed.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Carhartt has not published detailed information about water-repellent coating chemistry, PFAS use, or restrictions in its workwear lines. The company has not pursued third-party textile certifications (such as GOTS, Bluesign, or similar) that would signal control over chemical inputs. No major recalls or formal controversies over water-repellent coating or formaldehyde in Carhartt textiles have been reported in public records, but silence on disclosure is a red flag in an industry where competitors increasingly name their chemistries.
How it compares in its category
Polyester half-zips with water-repellent coating are standard workwear; most major brands (including Patagonia, Arc'teryx, and Columbia) now disclose PFAS-free or low-PFAS alternatives. Carhartt's lack of public commitment to PFAS avoidance puts it behind industry leaders on transparency. Comparable products from brands with Bluesign or OEKO-TEX certification offer lower chemical risk with comparable durability.
If you buy it
Wash in cool water and air-dry to minimize water-repellent coating degradation and potential leaching into wastewater. Do not tumble-dry or expose to high heat, as this can accelerate coating breakdown and any associated chemical release. Replace when water-repellent coating loses effectiveness (water stops beading); degraded coatings may shed microfibers more readily. If water repellency matters, seek a brand that certifies PFAS-free or low-PFAS water-repellent coating before purchase.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Carhartt has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Carhartt RSCU Half Zip?
- 100% cotton twill
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Azo dyes and restricted colorants
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- 100% cotton super twill, no coating disclosed
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Azo dyes and aniline colorants
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- 100% cotton twill
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Shrinkage and dimensional instability
More scrubs & work uniforms grades
65Dickies EDS Essentials Unisex STRETCH Inner Terrycloth Scrub Hat
65Cherokee V-Neck Scrub Top for Women with 3 Pockets & Dolman Sleeve - 4700
65Landau Men's Lab Coat - 65% Poly/35% Combed Cotton 5 Buttons
65Aramark Uniform Work Shirt Employee Short Sleeve White Snap Button Up
65Men’s 2xl Aramark Flexfit Uniform Work Shirt Blue
20Blue Generation Scotchgard Embroidered Short Sleeve Dress Shirt
20Carhartt RSCU Ripstop Coverall
20Cherokee Infinity Drawstring Pant for Women Straight Leg with 360 Stretch, Wrinkle-Resistant & 4 Pockets - 1123A
20Carhartt RSCU Ripstop Cargo Pants
65Cherokee Workwear Women's 3-Pocket Flare Leg Drawstring Scrub PantsCompare vs Dickies →All scrubs & work uniforms →How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.