Grandin Road · Outdoor Furniture Cushions
Island Bloom Outdoor Pillow - Blue - Grandin Road
Skip without water-repellent coating composition disclosure. Outdoor textiles commonly use PFAS.
Outdoor pillow likely treated with water-repellent coating typical of outdoor fabrics. Grandin Road provides no PFAS or water-repellent coating chemistry details, leaving composition unknown.
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
Outdoor polyester fabric with likely water-repellent coating water-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
Island Bloom uses outdoor-grade polyester fabric, which is inherently durable but typically treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish to shed moisture. water-repellent coating finishes on outdoor textiles historically relied on PFAS chemistry, though some brands have shifted to PFAS-free alternatives. Grandin Road has not publicly disclosed which water-repellent coating system is used on this pillow, leaving the PFAS question unresolved. Polyester itself is chemically stable when intact, but the finish and any additives applied during manufacturing are the primary concern.
The brand's record and disclosure
Grandin Road, a home furnishings retailer owned by HSN/Evine, does not maintain a publicly available materials disclosure or PFAS policy on their website or product specifications. The brand has not published third-party certifications (such as OEKO-TEX or bluesign) for outdoor furniture lines. No major recalls or safety controversies involving this specific product line are documented in public records. This silence on chemical composition is typical of mainstream home goods retailers and reflects an industry-wide lack of transparency rather than a specific breach.
How it compares in its category
Outdoor pillows from mass retailers almost universally use polyester with water-repellent coating treatment, so Island Bloom sits in the mainstream middle ground. Premium outdoor brands (Sunbrella, Pottery Barn) increasingly disclose PFAS-free water-repellent coating or pursue certifications; budget alternatives offer no better transparency. The pillow's fill material (likely polyester fiberfill) is not specified in typical product listings, which would affect durability and off-gassing risk. Without specific material certs, this product is representative of the category's transparency gap rather than an outlier.
If you buy it
Store indoors or under cover during winter or extended wet periods to minimize water-repellent coating breakdown and need for replacement. Wash only with mild soap and water; avoid high-heat drying or machine washing, which can degrade both the polyester and any water-repellent coating. Inspect annually for pilling, seam degradation, or persistent staining that signals the fabric's protective layer is failing. Plan to replace every 3 to 5 years depending on climate exposure; early replacement reduces long-term contact with any chemical residues in aged coatings.
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 or antimony in polyester
Outdoor polyester textiles are not typically treated with additional flame retardants, and antimony is rarely added to mass-market polyester fabrics unless explicitly stated. No evidence suggests Island Bloom uses antimony-dyed polyester; standard outdoor dyes are used.
Azo dyes and colorant toxicity
The blue coloring on this pillow likely uses standard reactive or vat dyes approved for outdoor use, which are generally considered low-risk. However, without OEKO-TEX or similar certification, restricted azo dyes cannot be ruled out entirely, though regulatory barriers in US/EU make this less probable.
Formaldehyde resins in fabric finishing
Outdoor polyester fabrics do not typically use formaldehyde-based durable-press finishes (those are common in cotton blends). No evidence suggests Grandin Road applies formaldehyde resins to this polyester product.
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from water-repellent coating finish
water-repellent coating coatings, especially older or untested formulations, can release low levels of volatile compounds during the first weeks of exposure, particularly in warm sunlight. This risk is minimal in outdoor use but could be noticeable indoors before the pillow is placed outside.
Microplastic shedding from polyester pilling or degradation
Outdoor polyester pillows can pill and shed fibers over 2-5 years, especially at stress seams. While shedding into soil or water is a low acute hazard, accumulation in garden or lawn is a known concern with synthetic outdoor textiles. This is a long-term environmental rather than direct health risk.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 35% 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.