Are PFAS-Free Coatings on Furniture Safer Than PFAS? Here's What We Know
A couple of weeks ago, I had four separate emails come in all asking about whether the new, PFAS-free coatings applied to couch upholstery are truly safe. Impressive! Thank you for demanding transparency and healthier design!
If you’re not sure what prompted their questions, here’s a little background:
What are PFAS, and why were they used in furniture upholstery?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) were added as a finish to fabrics — couch upholstery, curtains, outdoor textiles — to make them water- and stain-resistant. They've been used since the 1940s and are genuinely effective. They're also linked with lowered immune function, increased cancer risk, reduced fertility, and childhood obesity, and because they're "forever chemicals," they don't break down in the environment. They’re effective, convenient, and a public health problem.
What is C0 DWR? What replaced PFAS in furniture fabric?
Now, many companies have come out with PFAS-Free finishes, also called C0 DWR, to replace PFAS but still have the same stain- and water- proof effects.
Since the world has learned about the detrimental effects of PFAS, manufacturers have been scrambling to find something to replace them, so that furniture upholstery (and other goods) can still be “performance grade”— meaning, they can tolerate water and oil spills— but without the issues that PFAS present. C0 DWR stands for Durable Water Repellant made with zero fluorinated carbon. There are no PFAS, PFOA, or any of the PFCs (Perfluorinated Compounds) in them.
So what is C0 DWR actually made of?
I don’t know, and neither do most of the companies using fabrics made with it— yet. Furniture companies buy their performance upholstery from fabric suppliers, and fabric suppliers buy C0 DWR from C0 DWR companies, and none of the C0 DWR companies are disclosing their ingredients lists. I do understand why— trade secrets and proprietary information are common when developing new technologies, especially now, when there is a lot of competition to be the best PFAS-free alternative. Crypton Home has a Health Product Declaration for their PFAS free performance fabric, which is generally a good step toward transparency, but ironically, most of the ingredients in the stain repellency part are still undisclosed.
Is plant based stain repellant safe?
Encouragingly, they are plant- or seed-based, OEKO TEX certified, and of course, PFAS-free. But, while I’m all for innovation and healthy competition to create new, healthier products, the lack of more transparency beyond this is causing some to worry about "regrettable substitutions" — and the possibility that in 20 years we'll find out these PFAS-free options are just as bad or worse than PFAS in some unforeseen way.
Should I avoid C0 DWR upholstery entirely?
Probably not, but you can if you want to be safe. C0 DWR formulations are generally described as plant- or seed-based and carry OEKO-TEX certification. I think we are all just on high alert after learning about how bad PFAS are. We want to be sure that their replacement really is as innocent sounding as it is, and are tired of secrecy, even in the name of healthy competition.
What's the best way to push for more transparency on C0 DWR?
Please keep emailing companies and asking, with your rationale. Consumer pressure changes policies. When I received 4 emails in one week, I reached out to Medley (I have their couches listed here) about the plant based PFAS they use, and they called me back quickly. They were not only totally on board, but asked their fabric manufacturers to disclose the ingredients, just without ratios, to protect their fabric formula while still providing transparency for us health-minded consumers. I don’t know if they’ll ever get a response, but it does send a signal, and continued pressure will, too.
Would you personally get something upholstered in C0 DWR?
Honestly, yes, I would. I aim to balance the “baby steps”— plant based, PFAS free, OEKO TEX certified is really good! — with demanding more transparency, and I think they can be done at the same time. If you’re feeling more cautious, I recommend using a couch pad or cover to minimize dermal contact, or, you can opt for a couch without performance fabric.
That’s what I know so far! I will continue to update this post as I learn more. Thanks for reading!
For more on how I evaluate fabric finishes and what certifications mean for upholstery, the full breakdown is in the Fabric Guide. Non-toxic couch brand recommendations are on the couches page.
