Sunbrella Outdoor Throw Pillows with Covers, Set of 2
Avoid until Sunbrella confirms PFAS content or provides PFAS-free proof.
Sunbrella's trademark stain and water resistance typically comes from PFAS-based water-repellent coating coatings. The brand refuses to disclose what chemicals create these properties.
The better-graded swap
West Elm
West Elm Classic Linen Pillow Cover
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 stain/water repellent treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Sunbrella Outdoor Throw Covers, Set is made of, ingredients and materials
Sunbrella throw pillows use solution-dyed acrylic fabric, a synthetic polymer that resists fading and mildew in outdoor conditions. The fabric receives a proprietary stain and water repellent treatment (non-disclosed chemistry) that enables its durability claims. Acrylic fiber itself does not leach known toxins under normal use, but the applied water-repellent finish is the primary chemical concern, as outdoor textile treatments historically relied on PFAS compounds for performance.
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 finish is unconfirmed; historical outdoor textile treatments relied on Teflon-type coating and other fluorinated compounds. Until the brand provides independent testing or explicit PFAS-free certification, fluorine-based repellents should be assumed possible.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastic shedding during use and washing
Acrylic textiles shed microfibers during washing and weathering; Sunbrella's durability design minimizes pilling, but outdoor UV exposure and abrasion can still generate synthetic microplastics that enter wastewater and aquatic systems over the product lifetime.
What’s reassuring
Dye migration or azo dyes
Sunbrella solution-dyes acrylic during manufacture rather than surface-dyeing, which reduces migration risk. No recalls or documented azo dye toxicity have been reported for Sunbrella brand textiles, though industry-wide testing is limited.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Formaldehyde resins are uncommon in acrylic outdoor textiles; acrylic is pre-colored and does not require formalin-based wrinkle-proofing like cotton-blend fabrics. No evidence of formaldehyde exposure from Sunbrella products is on public record.
Source, ATSDR ↗Flame retardants
Sunbrella acrylic has inherent flame resistance due to its polymer chemistry and does not require halogenated or other added flame retardants. No flame retardant treatments have been reported for this pillow line.
Source, EPA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Sunbrella (owned by Glen Raven) has not publicly disclosed whether their proprietary repellent treatment contains PFAS or fluorine-based compounds. The brand has issued no third-party certifications (e.g., Oeko-Tex, bluesign) for these pillows that would verify chemical safety. This silence on a high-profile product line is inconsistent with competitors like Crypton Home that explicitly state their formulations contain no intentionally added PFAS. Without direct confirmation from the manufacturer, the water-repellent chemistry remains a black box.
How it compares in its category
Sunbrella pillows occupy the premium outdoor textile market where durability treatments are standard and expected. Alternative acrylic pillow brands (e.g., Frontgate, Pottery Barn outdoor) typically also withhold repellent chemistry details, making this category-wide issue rather than Sunbrella-specific. However, some manufacturers now market PFAS-free outdoor pillows with plant-based or siloxane-based water repellents, a segment Sunbrella has not entered or publicly acknowledged.
If you buy it
Wash pillow covers in cool water and mild detergent; do not dry-clean or expose to temperatures above 65-70°C, as heat can degrade acrylic and potentially mobilize treatment chemicals. Inspect covers annually for pilling, seam separation, or dye bleeding; replace if interior fill shows visible wear or lumping. Sunbrella fabric itself is UV-stable for 5-10 years outdoors under typical use. Store indoors during winter in damp climates to prevent mildew colonization of the foam insert.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% 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 Sunbrella Outdoor Throw Pillows with Covers, Set of 2?
- 100% cotton cover
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Azo dyes and residual dye toxins
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 100% linen with no stated finish or treatment
- Residual processing chemicals (bleach, dyes, finishes)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Boucle textile (wool/polyester blend, uncoated)
- Azo dyes and synthetic colorants
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More throw pillows 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.