Crate and Barrel · Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Replacement Alfresco Navy and White Cabana Stripe Sunbrella Outdoor Dining Bench Cushion
Get brand to disclose water-repellent treatment composition first.
Sunbrella cushions use proprietary acrylic treated for stains and water, but Crate & Barrel won't reveal the finish chemistry. PFAS risk can't be judged without it.
The better-graded swap
Design Within Reach
Design Within Reach Sculptura Lounge Chair Cushion
75/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Sunbrella acrylic fabric with unknown water-repellent finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Replacement Alfresco Navy and White is made of, ingredients and materials
This cushion is Sunbrella acrylic fabric, a solution-dyed synthetic material that resists fading and mildew better than cotton blends. Acrylic fibers themselves do not leach known hazardous chemicals when exposed to moisture or temperature fluctuations typical of outdoor use. However, the water-repellent finish applied to Sunbrella fabric is not publicly specified by Crate and Barrel; this finish is the primary source of uncertainty regarding PFAS and other water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) chemistry.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish composition
Sunbrella fabric is treated with a water-repellent finish, likely fluorochemical based on industry standard for this era, but Crate and Barrel does not disclose whether it contains PFAS or PFAS-free alternatives. This is the primary unknown hazard driver for the product.
Mold and mildew growth (maintenance-dependent)
Acrylic outdoor cushions can trap moisture in foam cores if not allowed to dry fully or if stored wet. Mold growth is cosmetic and health-relevant only if exposed to prolonged dampness; proper maintenance prevents this.
Fabric degradation and microfiber shedding over time
Sunbrella acrylic is durable but will shed fibers as the water-repellent coating wears and UV exposure continues. Shed microfibers from outdoor textiles are not systematically studied for harm, but shedding increases with age and weather exposure.
Thread and seam integrity under UV and moisture
Stitching on outdoor cushions typically degrades faster than fabric; polyester or nylon thread is standard and low-risk but requires inspection every 2-3 seasons for fraying or separation that exposes foam.
What’s reassuring
Foam core leachates (polyurethane or polyethylene)
Cushion foam core composition is not specified by Crate and Barrel. Standard outdoor cushion foams (polyurethane) do not leach known hazardous chemicals under normal outdoor conditions, but waterlogging accelerates foam breakdown.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Crate and Barrel has not published material safety disclosures or chemical composition details for this specific cushion product. The company does not appear to have made public commitments to PFAS-free outdoor textiles or transparent water-repellent coating treatment labeling. Without brand transparency on water-repellent treatment, consumers cannot independently verify whether legacy fluorochemical (PFAS) finishes or non-fluorochemical alternatives are used. This silence is typical of retailers, not unique misconduct, but it does limit informed purchasing.
How it compares in its category
Outdoor cushions with Sunbrella fabric are generally mid-to-premium tier for durability and UV resistance. Many competitors (Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, direct-from-Glen Raven) also do not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry, making this product representative of category-wide opacity. Some specialty retailers now offer PFAS-free or fluorine-free outdoor fabrics as an alternative, though Crate and Barrel does not advertise such options. On material safety grounds (excluding PFAS), Sunbrella acrylic shows lower concern compared to untreated cotton or vinyl-backed synthetics.
If you buy it
Wash with mild soap and water annually or after extended exposure to dirt or salt spray; rinse thoroughly. Do not machine wash or bleach, as these degrade the fabric finish. Store indoors or under a protective cover during off-season to minimize mold and UV breakdown. Inspect seams and stitching after 2-3 years of regular outdoor use, as thread degradation typically precedes fabric failure. Replace cushion if foam becomes waterlogged, flat, or shows mold growth that cannot be cleaned.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Crate and Barrel has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More outdoor furniture cushion protectants 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.