Crate and Barrel · Outdoor Furniture Cushions
Sunbrella 20"X13" Black Cabana Stripe Outdoor Pillow, 13"X20"
Outdoor pillow with water-repellent coating; PFAS content unclear, check directly with brand.
Sunbrella fabric is acrylic with water-repellent treatment, standard for outdoor textiles. Brand does not disclose PFAS status; water-repellent coating coatings often contain PFAS but formulations vary.
The safe swap
Target
Covers & All Square Cushion Slipcover
75/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned its C.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Sunbrella acrylic fabric with water-repellent coating treatment
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 solution-dyed acrylic fabric, meaning the color is built into the fiber itself rather than applied as a surface dye. This construction makes it inherently fade-resistant and durable outdoors. The "water-repellent coating" (water-repellent coating) finish is a separate coating applied to the fabric surface to shed water; such coatings in outdoor textiles commonly contain fluorinated compounds (PFAS) for water resistance, though Sunbrella's specific chemistry remains proprietary and unconfirmed by the manufacturer.
The brand's record and disclosure
Crate and Barrel does not publicly disclose PFAS content or manufacturing restrictions for Sunbrella products. Sunbrella (owned by Glen Raven) has not published specific PFAS-free certifications or phase-out commitments that are readily available. The brand has no major safety recalls on record for this pillow line, and Sunbrella fabric itself is widely used in marine and outdoor applications with minimal reported chemical hazard complaints. However, silence on water-repellent coating chemistry is notable given industry trends toward disclosure.
How it compares in its category
Sunbrella is considered a premium outdoor textile with proven longevity (typically 5+ years in heavy sun exposure). Most budget outdoor pillows use polyester or cotton blends treated with cheaper water repellents, which may degrade faster and leach dyes more readily in wet conditions. Some brands now offer PFAS-free water-repellent coating alternatives (e.g., paraffin-based or silicone), though these are less common in mainstream retail and may cost more. Sunbrella's durability arguably reduces replacement frequency, lowering overall chemical exposure over time compared to lower-quality fabrics needing frequent replacement.
If you buy it
Wash occasionally with mild soap and water; avoid bleach or high heat, which can degrade both the acrylic fiber and the water-repellent coating. Replace the pillow if the fabric shows visible wear, pilling, or water no longer beads on the surface (sign of water-repellent coating breakdown). Store indoors or under cover during winter or extended rain to minimize water pooling and fabric saturation, which can reduce water-repellent coating effectiveness. If PFAS concern is high priority, contact Crate and Barrel directly to request specific water-repellent coating chemistry documentation before purchase.
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 in colored fabric
Sunbrella's solution-dye method (color in the fiber) avoids surface-applied azo dyes that are restricted in EU textiles. No recall or testing data suggests azo dye concern for this product.
Formaldehyde resins in fabric finishing
Sunbrella acrylic does not require formaldehyde-based wrinkle or flame-resistant finishes. No public records indicate formaldehyde treatment of this pillow line.
Flame retardant chemicals
Sunbrella outdoor pillows are not marketed as flame-resistant and do not require fire-blocking treatments for outdoor furniture. Acrylic fiber itself is moderately flame-resistant due to material properties, not chemical additives.
water-repellent coating degradation and microparticle shedding
As the water-repellent coating wears over 3-5 years, microscopic particles may shed into soil or water during washing or rain runoff. No testing is publicly available for Sunbrella-specific microparticle release, but this is a known mechanism for all outdoor fabric treatments.
PFAS in water-repellent coating treatment (fluorinated compounds)
Standard outdoor textile water-repellent coating coatings use fluorinated chemistry; Sunbrella does not state its water-repellent coating is PFAS-free. Skin contact from handling is low-risk; the main exposure pathway is environmental leaching if pillow degrades or is discarded, and indirect food-chain contamination from outdoor water runoff in high-concentration applications.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% 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.