Haworth · Office Chairs
Haworth Zody Upholstered Office Chair
Lower PFAS concern typical for office chairs, but Haworth makes no public PFAS disclosure.
The Zody is an upholstered task chair with standard foam cushioning and fabric upholstery. Office furniture typically carries lower PFAS risk than water-resistant apparel or nonstick cookware, since upholstery and padding are not usually treated with PFAS-based stain or water repellents in this category.
Shop Haworth on Amazon →Material
upholstered foam and fabric seat/back; base typically polypropylene or aluminum
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 Zody seat and back use polyurethane foam cushioning wrapped in upholstered fabric (typically a blend of polyester and other synthetics depending on spec). Polyurethane foam in office furniture can off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including toluene and formaldehyde for weeks after manufacture, though this is normal and dissipates with ventilation. The base is typically polypropylene or cast aluminum, neither of which pose known leaching risks under typical office conditions. The fabric may contain azo dyes and synthetic treatments, but no recalls or safety alerts have been issued for Haworth Zody fabrics.
The brand's record and disclosure
Haworth is a major commercial furniture manufacturer with no known recalls specifically tied to the Zody chair for chemical hazards. The company has published general sustainability commitments but does not provide detailed chemical composition or third-party testing data on their website for consumer review. Haworth has not publicly disclosed PFAS content in upholstered products, and no major safety controversies have been documented for this model in public sources. The brand meets basic regulatory compliance (CA TB117-2013 for flame retardants) but transparency on materials is limited compared to some competitors.
How it compares in its category
The Zody sits in the mid-to-premium commercial office chair segment. It performs similarly to competitors like Herman Miller Aeron and Steelcase Leap on material transparency (all three make minimal public chemical disclosures), though Steelcase and Herman Miller have published more sustainability reports. Standard foam-and-fabric office chairs across the category carry low acute hazard risk but variable off-gassing profiles depending on foam supplier and ventilation. The Zody's polypropylene or aluminum base is a standard approach and carries no known risks compared to plastic or metal alternatives.
If you buy it
Unpack and ventilate the chair in a well-aired space for 48-72 hours to allow initial VOC off-gassing to dissipate; new polyurethane foam has a characteristic odor that fades quickly and poses no health risk with normal use. Avoid prolonged direct heat exposure (e.g., positioning over heaters or in direct sunlight for extended periods) as sustained heat can accelerate foam degradation. Clean fabric with a dry cloth or mild upholstery cleaner; avoid saturating the foam, which can trap moisture and promote mold. Inspect cushion coverage and seams annually; if foam begins visibly deteriorating or compressing unevenly, replacement of the seat cushion is typically available through Haworth as a spare part.
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.”
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde off-gassing from polyurethane foam
New polyurethane foam cushioning commonly off-gases trace levels of toluene, dimethylformamide, and formaldehyde over the first weeks of use. No reports of health complaints specific to Haworth Zody, but this is standard for the product class and mitigated by ventilation.
Azo dyes and synthetic fabric treatments
The upholstery fabric likely contains azo dyes and synthetic finishes (water-repellency, flame-retardant treatments); no safety alerts or recalls have been issued for Haworth Zody fabrics specifically, and migration risk during normal sitting is very low.
Flame retardant residues in foam (regulatory compliance)
The chair is required to meet California TB117-2013, which allows certain flame retardants in foam. Haworth does not publicly disclose which formulations they use; halogenated or phosphorus-based retardants may be present but pose no established risk during normal sitting.
Microplastic and fiber shedding from synthetic upholstery fabric
Polyester and synthetic blend fabrics shed microfibers over time with use and cleaning. This is typical for upholstered office furniture but is not unique to Haworth and poses no direct health risk to the user during sitting; shedding is higher with aggressive vacuuming or washing.
Polypropylene or aluminum base degradation
Neither material leaches chemicals under normal office temperature and humidity conditions. Cracks or stress fractures in plastic components can occur over years of heavy use but present mechanical failure risk, not chemical toxicity.
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.