Haworth · Office Chairs
Haworth Very Office Chair
Lower PFAS concern for typical office chair, but Haworth's silence on materials leaves room for uncertainty.
The Haworth Very chair is a standard office seating product with fabric, foam, and plastic components. Office chairs typically do not require water-resistant or stain-resistant coatings that commonly contain PFAS, reducing inherent risk.
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Fabric upholstery, foam, plastic base/armrests
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
furniture is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Very uses polyurethane foam cushioning, synthetic fabric upholstery, and a plastic/metal base with armrests. Polyurethane foam itself is chemically stable once cured and does not off-gas formaldehyde or volatile organics at typical indoor temperatures. The fabric covering is the primary exposure surface; synthetic textiles in office chairs may contain formaldehyde-based resins used in finishing, though concentrations are generally low in upholstered goods versus apparel or home textiles.
The brand's record and disclosure
Haworth is a large commercial furniture manufacturer with no documented major safety recalls or known controversies in the public record. The company does not prominently advertise third-party certifications like Greenguard or Cradle to Cradle for the Very line. Their silence on PFAS and material sourcing is typical of mainstream office furniture makers; transparency here is limited but not unusual for the category, and absence of disclosure is not evidence of a problem.
How it compares in its category
The Very sits in the mid-range commercial office chair segment. It offers no documented material advantages or disadvantages relative to comparable models from Herman Miller, Steelcase, or Humanscale. If PFAS or off-gassing are concerns, certified alternatives exist (Greenguard Gold models, for example), but the Very's typical hazard profile matches industry norms for this price and use tier.
If you buy it
Unpack and allow the chair to air out in a well-ventilated space for 24-48 hours if new-product odor is noticeable. Avoid exposing foam or upholstery to direct heat sources or intense UV light, which can degrade plasticizers and coatings. Vacuum fabric regularly to minimize dust accumulation. If upholstery shows wear, staining, or degradation after 5-7 years of daily use, replacement or professional cleaning is appropriate; foam deterioration is a durability issue, not a safety trigger, but worn foam loses support.
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.”
Formaldehyde resins in synthetic fabric finishing
Upholstery textiles may contain formaldehyde-based resins applied during manufacturing. Levels in finished fabrics are typically very low and regulated in many markets; off-gassing is not a known reported issue for office chairs, but cannot be ruled out without material disclosure from Haworth.
Polyurethane foam degradation and dust inhalation
Over 5-10 years, polyurethane foam can fragment and shed particulates. While not acutely toxic, chronic inhalation of foam dust is a minor occupational concern in heavily used or damaged chairs. Regular upholstery maintenance and replacement before visible deterioration mitigates this.
Plasticizers in plastic base and armrests
Plastics used in chair bases and armrests are rigid and not in skin contact; migration of phthalates or BPA is not a documented concern for office furniture. No recalls or complaints on record for the Very in this category.
Heavy metals in fabric dyes or pigments
Synthetic upholstery fabrics may use azo dyes; residual heavy metals (e.g., cadmium, lead) from dye manufacture are regulated in apparel and textiles. No documented contamination reported for Haworth office chairs; incidental skin contact via seating poses minimal exposure.
Flame retardants in foam or upholstery
Some office chair foams and fabrics include flame retardants to meet building codes. Haworth does not disclose active flame retardant chemistry for the Very. Brominated or halogenated retardants are not a known issue in this product category, and no recalls implicate this hazard.
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 office chairs 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.