Old Navy · Stain-Resistant Workwear
Old Navy Men's Straight Rotation Chino Pants
Lower concern. Bare cotton chino, no reported treatment or coatings.
Standard cotton chino with no disclosed water-resistant or stain-resistant treatment. Inherent material poses lower PFAS risk, though Old Navy does not address PFAS practices.
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Material
cotton/cotton blend twill, no stated finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
Category baseline
clothing is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Old Navy's Straight Rotation Chino is a cotton or cotton-blend twill with no stated water-resistant, stain-resistant, or wrinkle-resistant finish. Twill is a densely woven fabric that requires standard dyeing and finishing but typically avoids heavy chemical coatings. The absence of marketed performance treatments (water-repellent coating, antimicrobial, or flame retardant) means fewer synthetic chemical additives than specialty performance apparel. Bare cotton or cotton-poly blends rely on conventional azo dyes and minimal auxiliary chemicals in their manufacture.
The brand's record and disclosure
Old Navy (owned by Gap Inc.) has not published a detailed restricted substances list or hazardous chemical policy specific to individual products, and remains silent on PFAS use in textiles. Gap Inc. signed the Restricted Substances Protocol (ZDHC) in 2012 but does not disclose product-level compliance data publicly. No significant chemical safety recalls or formal violations have been documented for this specific product line. The brand's transparency on textile chemistry is below best-in-class but consistent with mainstream fast-fashion industry norms.
How it compares in its category
Standard cotton-blend chinos from department and specialty brands (J.Crew, Banana Republic, L.L.Bean) typically use identical plain twill construction and conventional dyeing without major chemical differentiators. Old Navy's lack of performance finishes actually positions it below risk relative to marketed 'stain-resistant' or 'easy-care' chinos, which may contain PFAS or antimicrobial additives. This product occupies the middle ground: no specialized coatings but also no third-party chemical certification or transparency advantage over comparable mass-market options.
If you buy it
Wash in cool to warm water; hot water is unnecessary and can accelerate dye bleeding on darker shades. Dry at low to medium heat or hang-dry to extend fiber life and minimize any residual chemical volatilization. Inspect seams and stitching after 5-10 washes; cheap twill can pill or fray in high-friction areas (crotch, inseam). No special precautions needed beyond standard garment care; this is a durable basic with no known finish maintenance requirements.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Azo dyes (aromatic amines)
Standard dyeing of cotton twill typically uses azo colorants, some of which can cleave into regulated aromatic amines (benzidine, aniline) under conditions of abrasion, sweat, or chlorine exposure. Old Navy does not disclose dye chemistry; compliance with ZDHC standards would typically exclude the highest-risk azo classes, but verification is not public.
Formaldehyde in fabric finish
Even untreated twill may contain trace formaldehyde from dye carriers, mordants, or sizing removers used in finishing. No performance finish is advertised, lowering risk, but low-level residuals are common in conventionally finished cotton. Not documented as a recall or known issue for this product.
Heavy metals in synthetic dyes
Some azo and reactive dyes require metal-based auxiliaries (chromium, copper) for color development. Old Navy chinos have not been reported to contain elevated heavy metals, and mainstream cotton dyeing typically avoids the highest-risk metal chemistry, but ingredient-level data is not public.
Residual pesticides (if non-organic cotton)
Conventional cotton is often grown with synthetic pesticides; residues may persist in finished fabric at negligible levels. Risk is low in contact with skin but non-zero without organic certification. Old Navy does not certify organic cotton for this line.
Antimony in polyester (if blended)
If the blend includes polyester (common for wrinkle resistance and durability in chinos), antimony trioxide may be used as a polymerization catalyst. Leaching is minimal in contact garments, but not disclosed for this specific product.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
More stain-resistant workwear 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.