Okamura · Office Chairs
Room & Board Modern Cynara Office Chair
Standard office chair with lower PFAS risk, but no transparency, ask the brand directly.
The Cynara is a conventional task chair with typical materials (fabric, plastic, metal) unlikely to require PFAS coatings for function. However, Okamura and Room & Board do not publicly disclose PFAS policies or test results for this product.
Shop Okamura on Amazon →Material
Fabric upholstery, molded plastic/composite frame, metal base
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 Cynara uses fabric upholstery (specific fiber content not confirmed in public sources, but typical for Okamura office seating: polyester or polyester blend), a molded plastic composite frame, and metal base components. Polyester fabrics in office chairs carry minimal acute toxicity risk in normal use; the molded composite frame is unlikely to leach chemicals under typical indoor temperature and humidity. Metal bases are inert. The primary concern is whether the fabric treatment includes PFAS water repellents (covered separately in your PFAS score).
The brand's record and disclosure
Okamura is a major Japanese office furniture manufacturer with ISO 9001 certification and established supply-chain practices, but publicly available substance disclosure and chemical transparency are limited. The brand has not issued prominent PFAS statements or certifications (e.g., GREENGUARD, Cradle to Cradle) that would signal proactive chemical management. No recalls or health controversies involving this model are on public record. Direct inquiry to Okamura about fabric treatments and flame retardants is recommended.
How it compares in its category
Mid-range office chairs from established manufacturers like Okamura typically carry lower chemical risk than budget imported alternatives, which often have undisclosed fabric coatings and adhesives. High-end certified alternatives (Herman Miller, Steelcase with environmental certifications) offer more transparent chemical disclosure. The Cynara's molded plastic frame is standard in this price/category tier and poses no known leaching risk. Fabric durability and off-gassing profile are unlikely to differ significantly from comparable competitors.
If you buy it
Unpack and air out the chair in a well-ventilated space for 24-48 hours to allow any residual manufacturing odors (from adhesives or treatments) to dissipate; this is standard practice and does not indicate a problem. Avoid prolonged heat exposure (keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources); office chairs are not designed for temperatures above 30°C/86°F. Inspect the fabric seams and base for damage before use; minor wear is normal, but cracks in plastic frame or loose joints should be addressed with the manufacturer. Damp-cloth cleaning is safe; do not use harsh solvents or expose upholstery to prolonged moisture.
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 fabric
Office chair upholstery in the US and EU may be treated with brominated or phosphorus-based flame retardants to meet fire codes (CA TB 117, BS 5852). Okamura does not publicly disclose flame retardant chemistry for this model. Exposure risk is low in normal sitting use, but should be confirmed with the brand if chemical sensitivity is a concern.
Formaldehyde in adhesives/binders
Molded plastic composite frames and fabric-to-frame bonding may involve urea-formaldehyde or phenol-formaldehyde resins, standard in office furniture manufacturing. Okamura has not published formaldehyde limits or low-formaldehyde certifications for this model. Off-gassing, if present, declines sharply after 48 hours of airing.
Azo dyes in fabric pigments
Okamura is a major manufacturer with established supply chains and likely complies with REACH and OEKO-TEX standards for textile dyes. No known issues or recalls involving azo-dye contamination in Cynara or comparable Okamura seating are on public record.
Antimony in polyester fiber
Antimony trioxide is occasionally used as a polyester catalyst in textile manufacturing. Published levels in finished fabrics are typically far below dermal or inhalation exposure thresholds in office use. No specific data on Okamura's polyester supply chain is publicly available, but this hazard is not documented in the product category.
Plastic frame degradation and microplastic shedding
Molded composite frames can crack or degrade over many years of use, particularly if exposed to extreme temperature swings or UV light. Small plastic particles may be released, but inhalation risk is negligible in an office setting. Regular inspection of frame integrity (especially under armrests and seat pan) is a prudent maintenance practice.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 60% 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.