What Are PFAS (Forever Chemicals) — and Why Do They Matter in Your Furniture?

You've probably seen "PFAS-free" start showing up on product labels, including ours. But what does that actually mean, and why should it matter when you're buying a sofa?

What Are PFAS?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They're a large family of synthetic chemicals, over 12,000 of them, that have been used in manufacturing since the 1940s. You'll find them in nonstick cookware, food packaging, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant carpets, and a lot of upholstered furniture.

The reason they're called "forever chemicals" is because PFAS don't break down. Not in the environment, and not in your body. They accumulate over time, which is what makes long-term exposure a concern.

Why Do People Care About PFAS?

PFAS have been linked in research to a range of health issues, including:

• Disruption of hormone and immune function
• Higher cholesterol levels
• Increased risk of certain cancers, including kidney and testicular cancer
• Developmental effects in children, including effects on thyroid function and birth weight

The EPA has tightened regulations around PFAS in drinking water, and several states have moved to restrict them in consumer products. The science is still developing, but the direction of research has been consistent: lower exposure is better, and there's no established "safe" level for many of these compounds.

The other concern is environmental. PFAS contaminate water supplies and soil, persist for decades, and have been detected in remote ecosystems far from any industrial source. What goes into a product eventually goes somewhere.

Where Do PFAS Show Up in Furniture?

Stain-resistant fabric treatments are the most common source. Phrases like "stain guard," "scotchguard," "easy clean," or "performance fabric" on furniture often signal a PFAS-based coating. These treatments make fabric repel liquids, which sounds great, but the chemistry involved frequently relies on fluorinated compounds.

Foam and cushioning can also be a source. Some flame retardants used in foam are PFAS compounds, added to meet flammability standards. Older regulations (California's TB 117, for example) drove widespread use of these chemicals. Newer versions of those standards allow manufacturers to meet requirements without them — but not all have switched.

Water-resistant backing on cushion fabric is another area where fluorinated treatments show up quietly, without being prominently labeled.

The tricky part: PFAS aren't always disclosed. There's no federal labeling requirement in the U.S. for PFAS in furniture, so "easy clean" and "performance" can mean a lot of things. The burden is on the shopper to ask, or to look for brands that have independently verified their materials.

What to Look For When Buying Furniture

A few things you can check for: 

OEKO-TEX certification (specifically OEKO-TEX Standard 100 or OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN) tests textiles for harmful substances, including many PFAS compounds. It's one of the more rigorous third-party certifications available for fabric.

CertiPUR-US certified foam means the foam has been tested and found free from PBDE flame retardants, formaldehyde, and heavy metals — and produced without ozone-depleting chemicals. It's not a PFAS-specific certification, but it's a helpful baseline for what's in your cushions.

Avoid vague "performance fabric" claims without supporting certifications. Ask the brand directly: is this fabric treated with fluorinated compounds? Has the fabric been independently tested? A brand that knows the answer and has done the work to eliminate them will be able to tell you.

Look for FSC-certified wood frames. While PFAS aren't typically a frame issue, FSC certification signals that a manufacturer is paying attention to material sourcing across the product — a good proxy for overall material transparency.

How Sabai Approaches This

We built PFAS-free materials into Sabai from the start, because the furniture in your home shouldn't be a source of chemical exposure for you or your family.

Our fabrics — recycled velvet, hemp blend, cactus leather, and upcycled poly — are all PFAS-free and OEKO-TEX certified. Our foam is CertiPUR-US certified. Our frames use FSC-certified wood. None of our fabrics use fluorinated stain treatments.

Learn more about how Sabai thinks about materials on our Our Materials page.