Pier 1 Imports · Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Pier 1 Set of 2 Black White Throw Pillow Covers 17" Square Indoor Outdoor
Lower risk. No water-resistant claims or coatings stated.
Standard throw pillow covers in polyester blend with no disclosed treatments or water resistance. Pier 1 makes no PFAS claims.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Polyester/cotton blend textile, unspecified finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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.
Azo dyes and other synthetic colorants
Black and white polyester textiles typically use azo dyes or reactive dyes. No lab data on this specific product exists, but azo dyes can release aromatic amines under certain conditions. Pier 1 does not certify dye compliance to OEKO-TEX or similar, so exposure is unverified.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Unspecified finish chemistry may include formaldehyde-based resins for wrinkle resistance or sizing. Cotton blends are sometimes treated with these agents. No claim of finish type is made, so this cannot be ruled out without laboratory testing.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microfiber shedding from synthetic content
Polyester-blend textiles shed microfibers with washing and wear. These fibers can accumulate in household dust and may be inhaled or ingested. The extent depends on yarn quality and weave tightness, both unspecified for this product.
Flame retardants
Some polyester textiles labeled indoor-outdoor receive flame-retardant treatments. Pier 1 does not advertise flame resistance for this item, suggesting none was applied. If present, brominated or phosphorus-based retardants could pose developmental or reproductive concern; absence of claim suggests low likelihood.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Lead
No regulatory action or published testing against Pier 1 throw pillows for heavy metal dye contamination is on record. Dyed polyester in the home-goods category rarely shows this issue, but no affirmative testing data for this product exists.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
These covers are a polyester-cotton blend, a common mid-market textile choice. Polyester is a synthetic plastic fiber that can shed microfibers with washing and wear; cotton adds breathability and reduces total plastic content. No water-resistant or stain-resistant finish is advertised, which means no Teflon-type coating or other coating chemistry to worry about. The unspecified finish leaves open what, if any, sizing chemicals or dyes were used in manufacturing.
The brand's record and disclosure
Pier 1 Imports has not published specific certifications (OEKO-TEX, Global Organic Textile Standard) or transparency reports on chemical finishes for this product line. The brand was acquired and restructured in recent years, and current chemical disclosure remains minimal. No recalls or regulatory actions specific to this pillow cover line are on record. Material composition is stated but dyeing and finishing agents are not detailed.
How it compares in its category
Indoor-outdoor throw pillows typically use polyester-dominant blends for durability. This Pier 1 product sits in the standard market tier, better than 100 percent polyester (which sheds more) but without third-party certification. Comparable unbranded or big-box alternatives (Target, Wayfair) rarely disclose finish details either, making this roughly equivalent in transparency and hazard profile to peers in the same price range.
If you buy it
Wash in cool water and gentle cycle to reduce microfiber shedding; avoid high heat drying. Check seams and fabric for pilling or degradation after 6 to 12 months of regular use, especially outdoors. Sunlight, moisture, and temperature swings degrade polyester faster than indoor-only use. Replace if covers develop thin spots or seams split, as filling may shed or become exposed.
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
- Pier 1 Imports has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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.