RST Brands · Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Outdoor Sunbrella Sofa Cushion Cover RST Brands
Avoid. Sunbrella's water-repellent coating treatment likely contains PFAS, no disclosure.
Sunbrella outdoor fabrics use water-repellent coating finishes standard in the industry, typically PFAS-based. RST Brands provides no transparency on chemical composition.
The better-graded swap
Frontgate
Crew Stripe Indoor/Outdoor Pillow - Seaglass, 20" x 20" Square, 20" x 20" Square Spa Tassels - Frontgate
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 water and stain repellent treatment
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Sunbrella's proprietary water-repellent coating system is not disclosed publicly. Industry-standard outdoor fabric treatments in this category typically use long-chain PFAS (PFOA-based) or newer alternatives like GenX or PFBS. Fluorochemical migration risk increases with weathering, washing, and UV exposure over the product's 3-5 year lifespan.
Source, ATSDR ↗Acrylic fiber shedding and microfiber release
Solution-dyed acrylic fibers can shed microfibers during mechanical wear, rain, and wind abrasion outdoors. Shed fibers are not inherently toxic but accumulate in soil and water. water-repellent coating treatments may also accelerate fiber degradation as the coating breaks down.
Off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
New outdoor fabric covers may release trace VOCs from water-repellent coating finish curing agents and acrylic binder compounds during first weeks of storage or use. Odor typically fades within 1-2 weeks in outdoor air circulation; minimal risk with normal ventilation.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Solution-dyed acrylic typically requires minimal post-dye resin curing compared to printed or surface-dyed textiles. No public records of formaldehyde-based resin use in Sunbrella fabric production, but full ingredient disclosure is unavailable.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Solution-dyed acrylic fibers are less prone to heavy metal contamination than surface-printed textiles because pigments are bound at molecular level. No known recalls or testing reports of lead or cadmium in Sunbrella fabric; industry standard controls appear adequate.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Sunbrella is solution-dyed acrylic fabric, meaning pigment is built into fibers during manufacturing rather than applied topically. This base material is inherently stable. However, the water and stain repellent (water-repellent coating) finish applied post-manufacture is almost certainly a fluorochemical treatment. Sunbrella does not publicly disclose the specific chemistry of its water-repellent coating system, which is the critical weak point for this product.
The brand's record and disclosure
Restoration Hardware (RH) does not publish safety data sheets or chemical disclosures for cushion covers on their website. Sunbrella, the fabric supplier, has faced repeated calls for transparency on PFAS use in outdoor textiles but has declined to commit to PFAS-free formulations or full ingredient disclosure. Neither brand has voluntarily removed PFAS-based water-repellent coating treatments from their product lines despite market availability of non-fluorinated alternatives.
How it compares in its category
Most outdoor cushion covers in this price tier (typically $60-150 per cover) use either Sunbrella, Solution 365, or other acrylic blends with water-repellent coating finishes. Cheaper polyester alternatives often use similar PFAS-based treatments. Premium alternatives include untreated natural canvas or linen covers (higher maintenance, lower water resistance) or covers certified PFAS-free by third parties (limited availability, price premium 20-40%). This product sits at market average for PFAS risk.
If you buy it
Wash covers before first use if possible to reduce fresh-off-the-line chemical volatilization. Store in well-ventilated area, not in sealed plastic bags. Do not machine wash in hot water as elevated temperature may accelerate water-repellent coating treatment degradation and shedding. Replace every 3-5 years or when water no longer beads on the surface (sign of water-repellent coating failure and increasing moisture retention). Keep away from children's direct mouth contact.
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
- RST Brands has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Acadia Outdoor 61in Sofa Cushion
Polyester cushion cover; likely acrylic or polyester-blend upholstery
PFAS
Limited concern
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from coating or dyes
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microplastic shedding
High concern
Mildew and bacterial growth if moisture trapped
Moderate concern
Lower PFAS concern likely, but West Elm discloses nothing.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
West Elm
Acadia Lounge Chair Cushion
Polyester upholstery cushion cover
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers
Limited concern
Lower concern cushion, but West Elm provides no PFAS transparency.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
West Elm
Westport Slim Outdoor 68in Sofa Cushion
Polyester/cotton blend cushion cover, no specified water or stain treatment
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding and degradation
Limited concern
Mold and bacterial growth if waterlogged
High concern
Lower PFAS concern. Standard outdoor cushion with no reported treatments flagging risk.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
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.