To comply with regulations and to meet consumer demand, the wallcoverings industry is addressing major environmental issues. Information courtesy of the Wallcoverings Association.
The wallcoverings industry is monitored by various government agencies, including OSHA and Congress, to ensure that the product’s manufacture, installment and use are safe for the environment. According to the Wallcoverings Association, to comply with environmental regulations and consumer demand, the industry is addressing major environmental issues:
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Wallcoverings manufactured today use no heavy
metals that could adversely affect the environment, such as lead,
mercury, chromium or cadmium;
Many manufacturers
are introducing and developing additional environmentally friendly
substrates in the manufacture of wallcoverings;
To
save forests, designers can now select wallcoverings that use harvested
wood pulp from managed forests in their production; and,
Adhesives used in installation are more environmentally
sound, with many being water-based.
The following are a variety of options currently available:
From left, Bellagio from Versa Second-Look, Jaipur from Plexus Second-Look, and Bolero from Cirqa Second-Look, courtesy of LSI Wallcovering.
This recycled vinyl wallcovering program includes two components:
New recycled wallcovering collections with a total of at least 20 percent recycled content and a minimum of 10 percent post-consumer recycled material; and
A retrieval program that reclaims used vinyl wallcovering of any make and recycles it into new Second-Look designs. Second-Look recycled collections are available for the Versa, Cirqa and Plexus brands. www.secondlookwc.com.
Enspire Collection, MDC Wallcovering
Zephyr, Enspire MDC Wallcovering.
Enspire is constructed from polyester-cellulose blends that allow moisture to pass through the material and allows the wall to breathe. The manufacturing facility has taken several environmental measures to ensure that all Enspire products are manufactured and delivered with the lowest environmental impact. For example, MDC uses a closed cooling system to reduce water consumption, and all materials and pallets are made from recycled material. Enspire also has an ecological reclamation program.
Additional products from MDC Wallcoverings include Bamboo from Opulence and Botanica and Metallurgy from Papyrus, printed on textured, eco-friendly and breathable non-woven substrate. The patterns are printed with water-based inks containing no heavy metals. All cellulose components used in the manufacturing of the wallcovering have been harvested from managed forests. www.mdcwall.com.
Organics, Wolf-Gordon
Haiku, Organics, Wolf-Gordon.
A new line of 100 percent recyclable wallcovering, Organics offers biodegradability, breathability, durability and aesthetics. The core component in Organics is Kenaf, or grass, and the backing is made from recycled newspapers and magazines (after all the formaldehyde and print inks have been stripped out). The resulting product is a renewable, carbon-neutral wallcovering for commercial interiors. www.wolf-gordon.com.
An efficient veneer slicing process reduced the amount of hardwood required for an interior at a fraction of the cost, according to the company. The trees are harvested from carefully managed plantations, and the product installs like any other contract wallcovering.
RJF International Corporation’s Koroseal, Vicrtex and Sanitas brand vinyl wallcoverings
Products like Ms. Roxie from Sondra Alexander Couture, Sanitas Wallcoverings, and Buglebeads by Vicrtex, have been certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute for low-emitting materials and have minimal impact on indoor air quality. www.rjfinternational.com.
Tuscan Damask from the Allure collection by Rich-Wall, digitally enlarged by DreamScape
Both brands of Royson Corporation, the printed surface is embossed vinyl; the backside is fabric-backing non-woven, cotton scrim or poly-cotton Osnaburg. www.dreamscapedirect.com.
Avant Wallcoverings & Scion Wallcoverings, OMNOVA
The Ecore Advanced Wall Technology patterns in both the Avant and Scion collections are made from a 100 percent recyclable, nano-based wallcovering. Both collections are formulated to offer all the same performance characteristics of Type II wallcoverings, and include a post-use reclamation program.
Forest Genon One from OMNOVA Solutions
Made of long-life and durable vinyl, according to the company, OMNOVA products are free of cadmium, mercury and other heavy metals. The company has instituted recycling and waste reduction practices in all facilities. More than 90 percent of its commercial wallcoverings are certified as low-VOC emitting by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. www.omnova.com.
Boccaccio from Stacy Garcia Tip Card Binder, Coronado from Diva, Carey Lind Commercial
York Contract’s commercial vinyl patterns are Class-A flame rated with the best mildew rating available under federal specification CCC-W-408D guidelines. York Wallcoverings use low-emission, water-based inks. www.yorkcontract.com.
According to the Wallcoverings Asssociation, the primary raw material in vinyl resin comes from common salt, which is in abundant supply, and the manufacturing process is highly efficient — more than 99 percent of all vinyl produced ends up in a finished product. For more information on vinyl, contact the Vinyl Institute at www.vinylinfo.org.
For more information on the sustainability of wallcovering products, visit the Wallcoverings Association at www.wallcoverings.org.
VictoriaPaceAMMC, Inc.
MichelleHucalLEED AP hucalm@bnpmedia.com Michelle Hucal, LEED AP, is the editor of Environmental Design + Construction. She can be reached at hucalm@bnpmedia.com.
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