Sunbrella · Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Crate & Barrel Sunbrella Canvas Outdoor Throw Pillow
Sunbrella canvas likely uses legacy water-repellent coating chemistry. Unverified for PFAS.
Sunbrella is industry-standard outdoor fabric with water and stain resistance, typically applied via fluorochemical finishes. The brand makes no PFAS disclosure or third-party verification claims.
The better-graded swap
Blazing Needles
74 in by 19 in Outdoor Solid Polyester Tufted Chaise Lounge Cushion
85/100 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 canvas with water-repellent coating finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Crate & Barrel Sunbrella Throw Pillow is made of, ingredients and materials
Sunbrella acrylic canvas is a solution-dyed acrylic fiber (not polyester), which means color is locked into the fiber itself rather than applied as a coating. This eliminates concerns about azo dyes and surface dye migration. The durability comes from the fiber quality and a water-repellent finish applied during manufacturing. Acrylic fibers themselves are relatively inert and do not off-gas formaldehyde or volatile organics significantly when compared to polyester blends. The main chemical concern is the water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish, which historically uses PFAS compounds (assessed separately at 30/100).
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.
Flame retardants
Sunbrella does not disclose whether its canvas receives flame-retardant finishing. Outdoor textiles sometimes receive brominated or other FR treatments for safety certification. No public evidence of FR chemicals on this pillow, but absence of disclosure leaves this unconfirmed.
Source, EPA ↗Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing
Acrylic fibers themselves emit minimal VOCs at room temperature. However, the water-repellent coating finish and any sizing or adhesives used during manufacturing may off-gas in the first few days or weeks. Odor is common with new Sunbrella products and typically fades; ventilation on first use is prudent.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Solution-dyed acrylic fiber does not require formaldehyde-based dyes or binders. Sunbrella does not appear to use formaldehyde-releasing finishes on its acrylic canvas. No reports of formaldehyde off-gassing from this product.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes and colorant toxicity
Because Sunbrella acrylic is solution-dyed (dye integrated into the fiber before extrusion), it avoids reactive azo dyes applied to fabric surface. Color fastness is inherent and does not degrade or migrate with washing. Azo dye restrictions do not apply to this manufacturing method.
Antimony in polyester content
Sunbrella acrylic canvas is 100% acrylic fiber. No polyester content means no antimony catalyst from polyester production. This product avoids a common toxicant in synthetic outdoor textiles.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Sunbrella (owned by Glen Raven) does not publicly disclose detailed chemistry of its water-repellent coating finishes or commit to PFAS-free formulations, despite sustainability marketing around durability and reduced replacement waste. The brand has no known third-party certifications specific to chemical safety (e.g., Oeko-Tex, GOTS). Sunbrella's silence on PFAS chemistry, combined with the product's premium pricing and legacy manufacturing footprint, suggests use of conventional fluorocarbon water repellents rather than newer fluorine-free alternatives. No product-specific recalls or chemical safety controversies are on record.
How it compares in its category
Outdoor acrylic canvas throws occupy a middle tier of chemical safety for furniture textiles. Solution-dyed acrylic presents lower concern than polyester blends (which may contain antimony catalysts) and lower concern than untreated natural fibers that require chemical finishing. However, Sunbrella's refusal to disclose water-repellent coating chemistry puts it at a disadvantage versus brands like Crypton or Crypton-treated fabrics, which offer transparency on fluorine-free alternatives. Price and longevity are strong points; chemical transparency is a weak point relative to competitors marketing low-toxicity outdoor textiles.
If you buy it
Wash only in cool water by hand or gentle cycle, avoid hot water which can degrade the water-repellent coating finish and potentially release bound PFAS compounds (though risk is low with intact coating). Do not tumble dry; air dry only to prevent heat damage to the acrylic fibers and finish. Avoid dry cleaning and solvents. Inspect annually for loss of water beading; once water no longer beads on the surface, the water-repellent coating finish is degraded and replacement is recommended. Store dry in a breathable bag to prevent mildew, which is more relevant than off-gassing for outdoor fabrics.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 55% 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.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Crate & Barrel Sunbrella Canvas Outdoor Throw Pillow?
Blazing Needles
74 in by 19 in Outdoor Solid Polyester Tufted Chaise Lounge Cushion
- Polyester fill with polyester cover
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Azo dyes in polyester textiles
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- mineral oil, argan oil blend
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 100% cotton canvas
- Azo dyes and dye contamination
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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.