Sunbrella · Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Casual Cushion Outdoor Lumbar Pillow Sunbrella
Sunbrella fabric likely contains PFAS for water and stain resistance.
Sunbrella's water-repellent coating-treated acrylic textiles typically use fluorochemicals for durability claims, but the brand does not publicly disclose PFAS status. Independent testing would be needed.
The better-graded swap
Design Within Reach
Mags 10 Cushion, Natural at Design Within Reach
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 proprietary water-repellent coating finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Casual Cushion Outdoor Lumbar Pillow is made of, ingredients and materials
Sunbrella cushions use solution-dyed acrylic fabric, which means the pigment is built into the fiber during manufacturing rather than applied afterward. This makes the color exceptionally durable and fade-resistant outdoors. The proprietary water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish is applied to the surface to shed water and resist staining; this finish is the primary vector for PFAS in modern outdoor textiles, as PFAS chemicals are highly effective at repelling both water and oils. Acrylic itself is generally non-toxic, but the treatment chemistry remains proprietary and undisclosed by Sunbrella.
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 treatment almost certainly contains PFAS or PFAS alternatives; no public disclosure or third-party testing results are available. PFAS can leach into skin during prolonged contact and accumulate in the body with repeated exposure.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and microfiber shedding
Over time, outdoor UV exposure and moisture cycling can degrade the water-repellent coating finish and acrylic fibers, potentially releasing microfibers. This is a general concern with all outdoor acrylic textiles, not specific to Sunbrella, but degradation accelerates without proper storage and maintenance.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No public reports or records indicate formaldehyde-based resins in Sunbrella acrylic cushion finishes. Solution-dyed acrylic typically does not require formaldehyde fixing agents, though some dyes or binders may contain trace amounts; this is not established as a concern for this product.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Sunbrella uses proprietary solution-dyed acrylic; no recalls or safety data suggest restricted azo dyes or heavy metal pigment contamination. Solution-dyeing generally produces cleaner, more stable colorants than surface printing, but ingredient transparency remains limited.
Source, FDA ↗Flame retardants
Acrylic fiber has inherently lower flammability than polyester or cellulose and typically does not require added flame retardant treatment for outdoor cushion applications. No flame retardant additives are disclosed or expected in this product.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Sunbrella (Glen Raven) is a market leader in performance outdoor textiles and has built reputation on durability and fade resistance. The brand does not publicly disclose PFAS content or commitment to PFAS-free formulations, despite growing industry awareness of PFAS concerns in outdoor coatings. No major recalls or safety controversies are on record for Sunbrella cushions specifically. The brand's silence on PFAS reflects a broader industry pattern, performance water-repellent finishes have historically relied on PFAS, and many manufacturers have not yet committed to alternatives.
How it compares in its category
Sunbrella is positioned at the premium end of outdoor cushion fabrics, competing against lower-cost polyester blends, vinyl, and olefin alternatives. Many budget outdoor cushions use polyester with flame retardant treatments, which introduce different chemical concerns (brominated or phosphorus-based flame retardants). Sunbrella's acrylic construction avoids those hazards but trades them for likely PFAS in the water-repellent finish. Cushions marketed as PFAS-free are increasingly available from specialty brands, though they typically cost more and sacrifice some stain resistance.
If you buy it
Store cushions indoors during off-season to minimize weathering and potential coating breakdown; prolonged UV and moisture cycling can degrade both the acrylic and the water-repellent coating finish, potentially increasing leachable particle shedding. Clean with mild soap and water only; do not use harsh solvents or high-pressure washing, which can strip the finish and increase risk of fiber damage and dust generation. Inspect cushions annually for pilling, fading seams, or coating loss; replace if interior batting is exposed or visible wear indicates breakdown. Limit contact with skin oils and sunscreen immediately before use, as these can accelerate coating degradation.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 62% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Sunbrella 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.