Old Navy Kids' School Uniform Jersey Polo Shirt
Lower concern. Plain cotton polo, no water-resistant treatment disclosed.
School uniform polo made of basic cotton jersey with no water-repellent or stain-resistant finish mentioned. Old Navy has not disclosed PFAS use or absence for this item.
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Material
Cotton jersey knit, untreated
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
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.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Untreated cotton polos may still undergo wrinkle-resist or sizing processes during finishing. Old Navy does not disclose finishing chemicals, so residual formaldehyde from manufacturing cannot be ruled out, though levels in children's apparel are typically below regulated limits.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes (color fastness)
The specific dyes used in the polo are not disclosed. Azo dyes are common in mass-market children's apparel and regulated in some markets but not the US. No specific recall exists for Old Navy kids' polos, suggesting compliance with current standards.
Microfiber shedding
Jersey knit sheds more microfibers than woven cotton, particularly after repeated washing. For a school uniform worn daily, accumulated microfiber shedding is higher than occasional-wear items. Environmental and ingestion risk is low but cumulative with frequent laundering.
Dye migration or bleeding
Dark-colored untreated cotton polos may bleed dye in the first 2-3 washes, especially if washed in hot water or with light-colored garments. This is a quality/aesthetics issue rather than a direct health hazard, but indicates potential for dye instability.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Antimony (polyester catalyst residue)
This is a 100% cotton product, so antimony catalyst (used in polyester production) is not applicable. No hazard from this source.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This polo is cotton jersey knit without disclosed water-resistant or stain-resistant treatment. Untreated cotton avoids the fluorinated PFAS chemicals common in performance finishes. Jersey knit is a soft, low-tension weave that sheds less microfiber than tightly woven fabrics, reducing ingestion risk if worn frequently. Cotton itself is a natural fiber with no inherent chemical hazard, but finishing processes during manufacture are the primary concern.
The brand's record and disclosure
Old Navy (owned by Gap Inc.) does not publicly disclose material testing or restricted substance lists for individual children's apparel items. The brand has faced no major recalls specifically for formaldehyde, azo dyes, or heavy metal contamination in kids' polos on public record. Gap Inc. publishes a general sustainability report but provides limited transparency on chemical use in supply chains. For a school uniform item, the lack of third-party certification (OEKO-TEX, GOTS) is typical of mainstream retail but leaves verification to assumption.
How it compares in its category
Untreated cotton polos are standard across mass-market kids' brands and represent the lowest-risk option compared to performance blends (polyester mixes with PFAS finishes) or chemically treated stain-resistant alternatives. This product avoids the flame retardant and antimony concerns more common in synthetic-blend school wear. The trade-off is durability and wrinkle resistance; it will require more frequent washing and ironing than treated alternatives, but without chemical exposure trade-offs.
If you buy it
Wash in cool water before first wear to remove residual dyes and finishes from manufacturing. Machine wash warm with mild detergent; avoid bleach and fabric softeners, which can accelerate dye fading and fiber degradation. Dry on low or air dry to preserve elasticity. Inspect seams and collar for pilling after 10-15 washes; this is normal for jersey knit and does not indicate a safety issue. Replace when fit becomes inadequate, typically every 1-2 years for growing children.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Old Navy has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More school uniforms grades
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.