Embody Chair Herman Miller
Lower concern; no known PFAS-risk treatments, but Herman Miller discloses nothing on PFAS.
The Embody Chair is fabric and metal with no disclosed stain-resistant or water-repellent coatings typical of PFAS. Herman Miller makes no PFAS-free claim.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Fabric (polyester/nylon blend) and aluminum/steel frame; no Teflon-family coating or water-resistant coating disclosed
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Azo dyes (toxic breakdown products)
The Embody's fabric is dyed polyester/nylon; Herman Miller does not publicly specify whether azo dyes are restricted in their color matching. Industry standard practice increasingly avoids banned azo dyes, but absence of explicit declaration means risk cannot be ruled out.
Antimony in polyester fiber
Polyester production sometimes uses antimony trioxide as a catalyst; residual antimony can persist in finished fiber. Seated contact with fabric presents minimal dermal exposure, but off-gassing risk is negligible at room temperature. Herman Miller does not disclose antimony levels.
Microplastics
Polyester/nylon fabrics naturally shed microfibers during use and cleaning. In an occupied office, this is inhaled in minute quantities; health significance remains uncertain but is inherent to all synthetic fabric seating. Vacuuming regularly reduces accumulation.
Source: EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Safe base material
Made from ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber with no PFAS risk.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No stain-resistant or water-resistant treatment is disclosed for the Embody's polyester/nylon blend, eliminating the primary source of formaldehyde-releasing finishes in office textiles. Standard polyester dyeing does not require formaldehyde.
Source: ATSDR ↗Aluminum frame leaching
The aluminum frame is anodized or powder-coated and does not contact food or beverages. Seated contact with dry aluminum in neutral pH indoor air produces no known leaching risk.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Embody chair uses a polyester/nylon blend fabric over an aluminum and steel frame. These synthetic fibers are thermoplastic polymers that do not leach significantly at room temperature in typical seated office use. The frame materials (aluminum alloy and steel) are structurally stable and do not off-gas; aluminum does not leach in neutral pH dry indoor environments. No water-resistant or stain-resistant treatment is disclosed, which eliminates a major chemical processing step where fluorinated coatings or formaldehyde resins are commonly applied to office textiles.
The brand's record and disclosure
Herman Miller is a major publicly traded office furniture manufacturer with established sustainability reporting and third-party certifications (Cradle-to-Cradle, ISO 14001). However, the company provides no explicit public guidance on PFAS use or absence in their textile supply chain, and does not disclose chemical composition of dyes or fibers beyond material type. No recalls or safety controversies specific to the Embody chair fabric or frame are on record. The company's silence on PFAS reflects an industry-wide gap rather than a red flag.
How it compares in its category
The Embody is a premium office chair; most competitor brands in this segment (Steelcase, Autonomous, Secretlab) similarly use polyester/nylon and do not disclose full chemical profiles. The absence of advertised water-resistance or antimicrobial treatment in the Embody actually reduces chemical risk compared to budget office chairs that often use cheap durable-press finishes (formaldehyde-based). For fabric-based seating, the Embody avoids the leaching risks of vinyl or PVC alternatives.
If you buy it
The Embody is designed for 8-10 hour daily use in climate-controlled offices and carries no heat restrictions. Vacuum or brush fabric regularly to remove dust and prevent fiber shedding microparticles from accumulating. If spills occur, blot immediately with water and mild soap; do not use solvent cleaners that can degrade polyester or release residual manufacturing solvents. The chair's lifespan is 7-12 years; frame failure (hydraulic cylinder, tilt mechanism) typically signals replacement rather than fabric degradation.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Herman Miller has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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.