Sunbrella · Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Sunbrella Cast Custom Cushion Covers
No PFAS disclosure. water-repellent coating textiles typically have PFAS.
Sunbrella cushion covers use solution-dyed acrylic with stain and water resistance. Sunbrella won't disclose PFAS content, though water-repellent coating finishes commonly use PFAS compounds.
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
Solution-dyed acrylic fabric with water-repellent coating finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
What Sunbrella Cast Custom Cushion Covers is made of, ingredients and materials
Sunbrella Cast covers are solution-dyed acrylic fabric, meaning color is built into the fiber during production rather than applied as topical dye. This eliminates the typical azo-dye and heavy-metal-pigment hazards common in printed textiles. The water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish is the concern, it protects the fabric outdoors but is almost certainly PFAS-based, a separate hazard graded at 30/100. The acrylic base itself is stable and unlikely to leach chemicals into skin or food.
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
Water-repellent treatments on outdoor textiles almost universally contain legacy or next-gen PFAS compounds. Sunbrella's silence and market-standard practice make PFAS presence likely, though not confirmed by the brand or third-party testing accessible to consumers.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
Solution-dyeing process bypasses typical azo-dye and pigment hazards. No recalls or warnings on record for Sunbrella acrylic fabrics related to dye toxicity or metal contamination.
Source, FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Solution-dyed acrylics typically avoid formaldehyde-based finishes used in cellulose or blended fabrics. water-repellent coating is the primary finish; if PFAS-free, it is unlikely to be formaldehyde-based.
Source, ATSDR ↗Flame retardants
Outdoor cushion covers are not classified as upholstery requiring flame-retardant treatment in most jurisdictions. No evidence of intentional flame-retardant additives in Sunbrella acrylic.
Source, EPA ↗Antimony in polyester or dyes
Acrylic fiber does not contain antimony catalysts. Solution-dyed process avoids antimony-based pigments typical of some polyester or post-dyed synthetics.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Sunbrella (Glen Raven) does not publicly disclose the chemistry of its water-repellent coating treatment or confirm PFAS-free alternatives. The brand has no published statement on PFAS phase-out or restrictions despite outdoor-furniture market-wide awareness of the issue since 2020. Sunbrella is transparent about UV and mildew resistance performance but silent on chemical composition, making independent verification impossible without direct contact.
How it compares in its category
Sunbrella is the market-dominant outdoor fabric; most competitors (Olefin, polyester blends, coated cotton) carry higher risks of antimony (polyester), formaldehyde finishes, or flame-retardant treatments. Solution-dyed acrylic avoids most of these. However, non-PFAS water-repellent coating alternatives exist (paraffin-based or fluorine-free brands like those certified by Bluesign or OEKO-TEX) and are increasingly available, making Sunbrella's silence a competitive weakness rather than necessity.
If you buy it
Clean with mild soap and water only; avoid high heat (no machine drying or direct sunlight >8 hours daily in extreme climates, which can degrade water-repellent coating over time). Inspect annually for seam or coating breakdown; water-repellent coating effectiveness drops after 5-7 years outdoors, signaling replacement time. Consider contacting Sunbrella customer service requesting water-repellent coating formulation details and asking if PFAS-free options are in development before purchase.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% 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 Cast Custom Cushion Covers?
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.