Wall Covering Alternatives to Vinyl

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Until recently, one word summed up the options available in alternative wallcoverings: limited. There were natural fibers in neutral tones, plaster blends, or paint. And that was about it.

Today, eco-friendly alternatives come in an array of fiber blends and glass fibers, from recycled wood to reclaimed waste, in textures as soft as silk or hard as rock. They can be pasted up, screwed on, or troweled smooth. And—perhaps the best news of all—many boast attributes even traditional coverings can’t claim.

For decades, vinyl reigned as the wallcovering king. In every category—tearability, scrubability, washability, color fastness, shrinkage, and resistance to cold, heat, mildew, and aging—the stuff couldn’t be beat (if you didn’t mind the outgassing and knowing that vinyl production releases dioxin into the environment). In terms of durability, there was no competition.

There is now. In fact, the market for vinyl alternatives is growing so rapidly that Rudy Mayer, president of Innovations, a designer and manufacturer of quality wallcoverings, says, “In the last six months, I’ve seen a new competitor come on the market at least once a month. It’s a huge, growing segment of the market.”

What exactly are vinyl alternatives? The definition varies slightly from one manufacturer to another, but generally, vinyl alternative wallcoverings are made from wood pulp and various recycled or reclaimed materials, including nylon and polyester. They’re colored with water-based inks and manufactured in single-layer construction, which means no second layer of backing to delaminate over time.

Like vinyl, they’re easily embossed; but unlike vinyl, which is nonporous, the alternative wallcoverings readily absorb ink, giving the finished product rich saturated color. As for price, Mayer says, “They cost us less to make, and that’s because there’s very little waste. They take less time to make and less energy to manufacture.”

At Blumenthal Alternative Wallcoverings, the best-selling line of green products is Duraprene—latex-impregnated cellulose fibers made from 50 percent recycled fiber content. “It looks like handmade paper,” says Sally Ayers, Blumenthal marketing coordinator. “It’s very soft, almost a suede. Everything in the line can be cleaned with mild soap and a soft cloth. Nothing requires harsh soaps or chemicals.”

Blumenthal also offers the Enigma line, made from gypsum and quartz fibers, which boasts the same virtues as vinyl.

Prices for vinyl alternative wallcoverings run about $15 per linear yard. Bear in mind that not all vinyl alternatives are created equal—at least not from an eco-friendly point of view. Because they contain nylons and polyesters, some may outgas more than others, and some may be more recyclable than others. For detailed information on products, contact the local representative.

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