Bed Bath & Beyond · Outdoor Furniture Cushions
Covers&All Outdoor Sunbrella Deep Seat Cushion Set
Sunbrella implies water-repellent coating treatment; PFAS status not disclosed by brand.
Outdoor cushion with Sunbrella fabric, which typically uses water-repellent coating. Brand provides no PFAS transparency or testing data.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Sunbrella acrylic fabric with durable water/stain repellent finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
furniture 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
Sunbrella is a solution-dyed acrylic textile, meaning pigments are locked into the fiber during production rather than applied as surface dyes. This manufacturing approach eliminates the risk of azo dyes or heavy metal pigment leaching that plague cheaper outdoor fabrics. The durable water and stain repellent (water-repellent coating) finish is the chemical wildcard: Sunbrella does not disclose whether it uses legacy long-chain PFAS or newer short-chain alternatives, and the brand provides no third-party certification of either choice.
The brand's record and disclosure
Bed Bath & Beyond has no published sustainability or chemical safety policy specific to outdoor textiles. Sunbrella (a Mohawk subsidiary) markets its fabric as 'performance-driven' but does not voluntarily disclose water-repellent coating chemistry on product labels or websites, nor has it pursued bluesign, OEKO-TEX, or other textile safety certifications that would rule out PFAS. No recalls or regulatory actions against this specific cushion set are on record, but the absence of transparency is itself a red flag in a category where competitors increasingly offer PFAS-free alternatives.
How it compares in its category
Outdoor cushion fabrics range widely in chemical burden. Solution-dyed acrylic (like Sunbrella) is superior to printed polyester mixes for avoiding azo dyes and heavy metals. However, premium competitors such as those using PFAS-free water-repellent coating treatments or natural fiber blends with lower water resistance are increasingly available at similar price points. This product sits in the middle: excellent durability and fade resistance, but chemical opacity puts it behind certified alternatives.
If you buy it
Store cushions in a dry, shaded location when not in use to minimize moisture retention and mold growth. Do not machine wash; clean with mild soap and water only, as aggressive laundering can degrade the water-repellent coating finish and potentially mobilize surface chemicals. Inspect annually for mold, staining, or seam degradation, especially in humid climates. Replace if mold penetrates the core or seams fail, as interior foam and batting may absorb water and become unhygienic.
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.”
Flame retardants in foam core
No regulatory flame retardant standard applies to outdoor cushions in the US; Sunbrella fabric itself is inherently flame-resistant due to acrylic chemistry and requires no chemical additives. Interior foam composition is not disclosed, but typical polyurethane foams used in outdoor seating do not routinely contain legacy halogenated or chlorinated flame retardants in this product segment.
Formaldehyde resins or off-gassing
Solution-dyed acrylic fibers and outdoor-grade polyurethane foams do not inherently require formaldehyde-releasing resins for curing or binding. No formaldehyde off-gassing has been documented for Sunbrella textiles or standard outdoor cushion foams; the product is not known to emit detectable VOCs during normal use.
Azo dyes and heavy metal pigments
Because Sunbrella is solution-dyed (pigment added during fiber extrusion), it avoids the surface dyeing step that introduces azo dyes and heavy metal colorants. The acrylic fiber itself is non-toxic and does not leach chromium, cadmium, or lead under normal weathering.
Mold and microbial growth from water retention
Although Sunbrella resists water penetration, seams, stitching, and the interior foam core remain vulnerable to moisture absorption in high-humidity or rainy climates. Prolonged wet storage or poor drainage can allow mold and mildew to colonize the cushion interior, creating respiratory irritants and odors; this is a maintenance hazard, not a chemical one.
water-repellent coating finish chemical composition (non-PFAS hazards)
Even if Sunbrella has switched to PFAS-free water-repellent coating chemistry (e.g., hydrocarbon or silicone-based), the brand does not disclose formulation. Unknown non-PFAS water-repellent additives present a minor theoretical exposure risk, particularly if the finish degrades and is inhaled as dust or absorbed through skin during handling.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 42% 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.
Safer alternatives in Outdoor Furniture Cushions
Target
Covers & All Square Cushion Slipcover
Cotton or cotton-blend slipcover fabric
Low PFAS concern for bare textile slipcover without stated treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Target
ARDEN Elastic Deep Seat Cushion Cover 2-Pack
polyester/cotton blend upholstery fabric
Lower concern. Soft furnishings rarely treated with PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Pottery Barn
Cammeray Dining Chair Cushion Slipcover
cotton/polyester blend upholstery fabric
Likely lower concern; typical furniture fabric without known PFAS triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
More outdoor furniture cushions 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.