Everyone dreams that the apartment will be cozy, the wallpaper will not only please the eye, but will also be absolutely safe for our health. Today I want to talk about eco-friendly wallpaper.
Which wallpaper is best to choose so that it meets environmental safety criteria? Let's get acquainted with the most environmentally friendly wallpapers.
When choosing wallpaper, you should consider its ability to allow air to pass through. Paper wallpaper In this case, it's a win-win. But there are also advantages to such wallpaper.
There is good air exchange between the wall and the air in the room; mold and mildew do not form on the walls.
The low price of single-layer wallpaper makes it possible to change the decor in the apartment every three years.
But in Lately consumers make their choice in favor of expensive multi-layer imported wallpaper with high-quality patterns and photo printing. The price of such wallpapers is high, they stick for a long time. Excessive demands are placed on the quality of such wallpaper.
Modern photo wallpaper on a thick paper base, High Quality, conveying the image as realistically as possible. Nature, cities, and different natural textures are especially popular.
They are pasted over with thematic wallpaper end walls. If you apply wallpaper correctly and successfully, the room will appear taller and wider, as if there is an additional volume of air.
The main disadvantages of paper wallpaper:
Therefore, it is better not to use such wallpaper for the kitchen and bathroom.
Try to choose wallpaper that is denser; it accumulates less dust, which means less harm to health.
Choose wallpaper that can be cleaned. For example, washable paper wallpaper with a glossy layer.
Non-woven fabric is a non-woven material made from cellulose and wood fibers.
High-quality non-woven wallpaper consists of: 
The embossing method is used to produce such wallpaper; a canvas is created from pure non-woven fabric.
Real non-woven wallpaper does not contain harmful components:
The main advantages of such wallpapers.
A few years ago in stores you could find wallpaper of the same color made from pure non-woven fabric for painting. The material withstood 5 repaintings, it was possible to change the interior several times without investment.
If you want to receive immediately finished walls choose colored wallpaper. But here you need to be more careful, many sellers pass off combined wallpaper as non-woven wallpaper, that is, vinyl on a non-woven base.
If you choose wallpaper to be tinted, then know that it will lose its ability to breathe. The property of breathability is lost. If you want to preserve this property, choose single-layer and multi-layer pure non-woven wallpaper.
To make sure making the right choice, you need to tear the edge of the sheet. If the fabric is paper, you will not notice the fibrous structure, but at the tear you will see a jagged structure. If the base is non-woven, the tear will be stretched, and non-woven fiber will be visible at the edges.
Which non-woven wallpaper to choose? First, read the packaging, if it says: non-woven, ask the sales consultant for a certificate stating that the wallpaper is non-woven.
Another type of safe wallpaper is textile, consisting of paper and woven layers. Upper layer consists of cotton, linen threads or artificial fibers. 
Advantages of textile wallpaper:
More expensive options Such wallpaper is covered with a dust- and dirt-repellent coating.
Cork wallpaper is easy to use. They are easy to clean, do not fade, and do not electrify.
You can find two types of such wallpaper.
Such wallpapers are becoming more and more popular. Buyers really like the texture of the coating. Plant wallpaper that nature created are unique and inimitable. 
To choose such wallpaper, you need to take into account that even in one batch there may be wallpaper different in color, texture, and pattern.
Natural materials are used to make wallpaper from plant fibers:
Which floral wallpaper to choose? Pay attention to the following characteristics: possibility wet cleaning, treatment protective equipment, resistance to fading.
Conclusion: now you know which wallpaper is better to choose. Safety, environmental friendliness, cleanliness are the main factors when choosing wallpaper.
In the line of wallpapers with special characteristics - fire-resistant, anti-vandal and so on, eco wallpaper occupy special place. They are associated with the most myths, misunderstandings and even outright deception. How soon will the demand for sustainability in last years is only increasing, any manufacturer is trying to add the prefix “eco” to the name of its products.
However, in practice it turns out that the environmental indicator is not as simple as it seems at first glance. Most often, this characteristic refers to the safety of wallpaper for people, and only in some cases is it extended to further issues of disposal and safety for nature in general.
Questions are also added by the fact that the environmental friendliness of wallpaper in a roll and wallpaper pasted on the wall can vary greatly. What characteristics should a natural and safe fabric have? What wall coverings cannot harm you? Is it worth pursuing environmental friendliness, or does it have its drawbacks? Let's figure it out further.
Issues of environmental friendliness of a particular finishing or building material are very subtle. Are changing construction technologies, safety requirements are increasing, people’s knowledge about their health and substances hazardous to it is increasing - and now previously considered safe materials are labeled "harmful".
Therefore, most people give preference to long-known finishing materials and materials with a large share natural ingredients. But is it worth relying on this? So, let's take it in order.
First of all, environmental friendliness means the safety of wall decoration for humans. Formally, all wallpapers officially approved for sale meet these requirements. But this does not mean that the issue can be closed. A number of important conditions must be taken into account:
The environmental friendliness of the coating should not be at the expense of their decorative qualities. Plain paper rolls, unbleached and undyed, are the most environmentally friendly option. But within a year, or even earlier, they will turn yellow from exposure sun rays, will become covered with stains from indelible dirt, and will tear in those places where the paws of animals or the inquisitive hands of children can reach them.
Therefore, instead of the not entirely clear “safety for people,” when choosing environmentally friendly wallpaper, you should focus on the following series of characteristics:
It is easy to notice that now the level of requirements for the environmental characteristics of wallpaper has increased significantly. Luckily, there are wallpapers that match them.
There is a common misconception that the simplest and cheapest wallpaper is the most environmentally friendly. This is wrong. Currently there are many cheap finishing materials, but they are not environmentally friendly, and are often even harmful to humans. As a rule, the more expensive the material, the more environmentally friendly it is.
However, it would be wrong to focus only on price. Below we provide a list of wallpapers with high environmental characteristics, without keeping silent about their shortcomings:
Wallpaper from natural materials very expensive, but high quality. This is a whole segment roll coverings for walls that are intended for people who primarily value the naturalness and high functional characteristics of plant materials. The advantages of natural wallpaper include high heat and noise insulation, excellent decorative properties, and environmental safety of the base material.
But they also have disadvantages. As a rule, this is an elite segment of finishing materials with a very high price. Such wallpaper still requires the use of adhesives, pigments and impregnation, albeit of very high quality and with minimal harmful effects. Vegetable wallpaper, except cork, can also fade quickly, so it is not suitable for rooms with a high degree of illumination.
At the other price pole are paper wallpapers. Typically, they occupy the lowest price segment of all types of rolled wall coverings. The exception is eco-wallpaper with natural pigments and minimal processing of the paper base. Such wallpapers cannot be called cheap, but, unfortunately, they are the only ones capable of meeting a number of requirements for product safety.
The environmental friendliness of cheap paper wallpaper is, in many cases, a myth. Paper base Such wallpaper is fragile, so it has to be treated with various compounds to increase wear resistance. This includes treatment to improve UV resistance and lamination to improve anti-vandal properties. The pigment on the top layer of paper wallpaper is sometimes so unstable that it can be wiped off even with a dry cloth. They have the ability to absorb odors and harmful substances, such as cigarette smoke.
From all of the above, we can conclude that paper wallpaper is certainly environmentally friendly, but only in the highest price segment. In addition, you should not count on the long service life of such wallpaper, no matter what quality it is.
Liquid and textile wallpapers are based on plant fibers: linen, cotton, silk. They are durable, decorative and durable, however, their environmental qualities depend on other components: glue (for liquid) and synthetic fibers (for textiles). In general, it can be noted that such materials with natural fibers are a good choice for dry rooms with controlled humidity levels. But in rooms with high humidity they will be the basis for the spread of mold, so for damp apartments it is better to choose another option.
Non-woven wallpaper is made from pure cellulose, but its environmental friendliness must be judged by its outer coating. Non-woven fabric is often used not for pure form, but as a basis for a decorative vinyl layer, and this is a synthetic material, the safety of which is doubtful. Therefore, we can talk about environmentally friendly non-woven wallpaper only if it is intended for painting. Then they have all the advantages of the original material: strength, excellent gas exchange (the walls “breathe”), and the absence of substances harmful to humans. It is worth noting that the cost of such wallpaper is quite high.
Glass wallpaper is a finishing material that not only meets the highest safety requirements, but also retains its characteristics for its entire service life. In addition to being fire-resistant and resistant to damage, the glass threads that form the basis of glass wallpaper can be cleaned with almost any type of cleaning. detergents. Therefore, restore the original appearance, if they become dirty or smoked, it will be very easy. This is especially true for rooms such as a children's room or kitchen.
Fiberglass wallpaper does not contain organic inclusions, which so often fail textile and vegetable coatings under conditions high humidity. They are many times superior to paper wallpaper in terms of durability and wear resistance, and non-woven wallpaper - in terms of reinforcing properties. In short, if you had to choose among roll materials champion in environmental friendliness, then it would be glass wallpaper.
It was already said earlier that one should separate the pure environmental friendliness of a roll of wallpaper and its environmental friendliness after gluing it to the wall. In the latter case, glue, primer and paint, and sometimes wax and various impregnations, add their characteristics to the wallpaper. Additional components can significantly reduce the initial safety of wallpaper, so if the choice of wall decoration is based on safety indicators, it is worth paying attention to them.
The best paints from an environmental point of view are those based on water based, which are recommended for residential premises, including bedrooms, as well as children's institutions - game rooms, assembly halls. But you need to choose the glue that is offered by the wall covering manufacturer.
Quite often you can come across advice to add reinforcing components to wallpaper glue. Based on this recommendation, buyers choose inexpensive glue, strengthening it with additives at home. Or just “to be sure” they add them even to the recommended adhesive compositions. This is definitely not worth doing.
Vitrulan is a leading European manufacturer of glass wallpaper, one of the world leaders in the production of fiberglass finishing materials. High requirements to quality starting materials and manufactured products that undergo European certification allow us to declare the absolute safety of glass wallpaper for humans.
Vitrulan fiberglass wallpaper due to its excellent quality characteristics can improve gas exchange in rooms, reinforce walls, reduce the spread of small and large cracks, prevent the appearance of fungus on wall structures. They can be glued to almost any wall - brick, concrete, foam blocks, drywall, etc., naturally, having first leveled and primed it.
In addition to environmental safety, Vitrulan offers a wide selection of textures, patterns, the ability to create exclusive photo wallpapers, and painting in any colors - from white and gold to red, purple and black. Divided into “economy” and “luxury” series, you can choose wall finishes of unsurpassed quality for different budgets.
Vitrulan is a glass wallpaper that allows you not to compromise, but to choose best coverage for walls from the standpoint of beauty and functionality. Choose Vitrulan glass wallpaper to be confident in the safety of your health!
The online store "Wall" offers to buy high-quality glass wallpaper from the official dealer of the German company Vitrulan - wholesale and retail, with pleasant discounts, favorable conditions for delivery and pickup in Moscow and the Moscow region.
Since we strive for environmental safety of our home, we cannot do without paper wallpaper. Whatever one may say, paper is a material, although not super-durable, but one of the most natural and environmentally friendly. And if you can use fashionable non-woven wallpaper in the hallway or living room, then paper wallpaper is the best choice for renovating a child’s room or bedroom.
If you think that paper wallpaper is a relic of the past, you are deeply mistaken. Nowadays, the range of such wallpapers is so large that it can satisfy the whims of any consumer - both in design, in strength and reliability, and in cost. After all, today it is not only ordinary single-layer wallpaper with a printed pattern (the so-called simplex), although they are very widespread.
Modern eco wallpaper can consist of two or even more layers of paper (duplex) with relief embossing. They are durable, resistant to deformation (simply put, they will not tear when gluing) and will perfectly hide possible wall defects (roughness, unevenness, color variations). In addition, such wallpapers are often coated with a moisture- and dirt-repellent composition, and they are also treated special means, preventing sunburn. Today, this is the most common environmentally friendly wallpaper due to its quality characteristics and reasonable price.
There are also special wallpapers for painting. They are multi-layered, durable, and have a high density because they are made from especially heavy fibrous paper. They are necessarily impregnated with a water-repellent agent and have a different structural pattern, which ensures the excellent appearance of the laminated walls as a result of light refraction.
Such eco wallpapers are painted with water-based or dispersion paints, which themselves are environmentally friendly and safe. And after painting, the wallpaper still remains breathable - “breathable”.
One of the advantages of such wallpaper is the ability to paint it multiple times (from 5 to 15 times). This is especially true for, where the walls involuntarily become an easel for the young artist.
If you have some paint left after painting, don’t rush to throw away the can - after a while, a particularly “artistic” place can be simply painted in the same color, without resorting to re-sticking the wallpaper or completely painting the walls.
Well, and finally, another type of paper wallpaper worthy special attention, – photo wallpaper. Distributed almost everywhere in the 80s with an invariable image of a waterfall or forest, they became rather boring and were unpopular for a long time. However, today, either thanks to modern technologies, or the fantasies of many designers, photo wallpapers have returned to their former relevance and popularity. After all, you can depict anything on them, from your own photo to unimaginable “cosmic” fantasies. Although the most common options are still images of landscapes. Apparently a city apartment really lacks at least such a painted, natural island.
Photo wallpapers can have different sizes– it depends on their purpose. So, you can cover the entire wall - from floor to ceiling, or part of the wall, making a kind of panel. In addition, they produce narrow photo wallpapers for decorating doors.
In addition to wallpaper, there are many other environmentally friendly pure materials for wall decoration: textiles, bamboo, sedge, wood, etc. (for more details about bamboo wallpaper, see the article ““) They all have different designs and, accordingly, are suitable for different rooms. One thing they have in common is the ability to transform ordinary city apartment to a real eco-house.
Ksenia Poddubnaya
December 11, 2017Everyone has heard about the presence of low-quality building materials on the market that are harmful to health. So it's a matter of choice environmentally friendly coatings has become very relevant, in particular, many people are trying to purchase the most environmentally friendly wallpaper for their walls, but which canvases should be preferred? Next, I will try to answer the question posed and tell you which trellises are the most environmentally friendly.
First of all, I would like to note that it is not entirely correct to talk about which wallpapers are environmentally friendly. The fact is that all wallpapers comply with certain standards and do not cause harm to health, unless, of course, they are of high quality and certified.
Therefore, the main rule when choosing environmentally friendly materials, and any - this is not to chase the price, but to purchase products from famous manufacturers in large stores. In this case, it practically does not matter what material they are made of.
But when buying secondhand, even the most seemingly safe paper trellises may turn out to be harmless.
But, when most people talk about eco-friendly trellises, they mean canvases made from natural materials, and not just compliant with safety certificates. Therefore, next I want to tell you about four types of such wallpaper.
So, we can say with confidence that the most environmentally friendly trellises, if we talk about materials, are the following:
Below we will take a closer look at all types of these trellises.
Eco-friendly, breathable paper wallpaper needs no introduction. They are well known to everyone since Soviet times. True, since then the trellises have undergone some changes:
The main advantage of paper trellises is their low cost. But durability, of course, leaves much to be desired. In addition, they are very afraid of moisture.
To increase the durability and moisture resistance of paper wallpaper, they can be varnished.
Many people question the environmental friendliness of non-woven wallpaper, but is there a reason for this? This material made on the basis of cellulose fibers and modified, as a rule, with polyester. In other words, it is a paper-like material.
As for polyester, i.e. synthetic components, then there is no need to worry. This material is now often used to make clothes, bedding, etc. The only thing, do not forget what I said at the beginning of the article - environmental friendliness largely depends on the quality of the wallpaper.
Non-woven fabric itself is an environmentally friendly and breathable material. Therefore, you should not avoid it.
Advantages. Among positive qualities non-woven coverings, we highlight several main ones:
Flaws:
Fabric trellises are an excellent solution for residential premises. They can be made of linen, silk, jute and other materials. The only thing is, if you want the coating to be truly natural, pay attention to the absence of synthetics in the composition.
Advantages. The canvases have the following positive qualities:
Flaws:
If all of the above coatings require careful treatment, then bamboo eco wallpaper for walls is absolutely undemanding in terms of operating conditions. They can be used in the kitchen, bathroom or even on the balcony.
Advantages. Other advantages of the material include:
Instructions for gluing bamboo wallpaper has its own characteristics. Therefore, before you begin installing them, read the recommendations from the manufacturer.
The only disadvantages include the peculiar appearance of cork panels. Therefore, they are not suitable for every interior.
Finally, I will give the cost of all the above coatings:
The prices in the table are valid for winter 2017/2018.
We have familiarized ourselves with the popular options for eco-friendly wallpaper and their types, which will certainly help you decide on their type. Finally, watch the video in this article. And if you have any difficulties with your choice, write comments, and I will be happy to help you with advice.
December 11, 2017If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, or ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!
Correctly selected wallpaper can amazingly transform a space, add depth, expressiveness, and create the necessary atmosphere. However, when choosing wallpaper, it is worth considering not only its external characteristics, especially for rooms where there will be people with allergies and children. Their non-toxicity and safety for humans are also very important. Also, due to exhaustion natural resources and the constant increase in pollution environment, wallpaper made from materials made from renewable resources is more preferable. Wallpaper is now available in a wide range and is quite easy to find if you know what to look for.
Paper wallpaper made using recycled paper or FSC-certified paper. Using recycled paper reduces environmental pollution and energy consumption compared to making paper from new material. 3D wallpaper made from recycled paper has good acoustic properties and can be painted (however, I have not seen information about the sale of such wallpaper in Russia). FSC-certified wallpaper is made from trees grown in special, controlled forests. FSC certificate is issued international organization, called the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Paper wallpaper allows the walls to “breathe” and, as a rule, they are not very expensive. Their disadvantages include low wear resistance, the ability to absorb odors, lack of moisture resistance and fading.
Wallpaper made from natural fibers. Although this wallpaper is not recommended when there are cats in the house, it is good in all other cases. These wallpapers are made from rapidly renewable materials such as seaweed, bamboo and reed, straw, linen, silk. Wallpaper made from natural fibers is very beautiful and adds warmth and naturalness to any room. They can be found in all sorts of colors and patterns. These wallpapers allow the walls to “breathe”, they are quite durable, have high sound and heat insulation, but they are usually expensive and tend to fade.
Cork wallpaper. This is an environmentally friendly wallpaper that is not afraid of the sun, moisture and fungus, has good sound and heat insulation, it is wear-resistant, elastic and hypoallergenic, and has a natural color.
Dyes on wallpaper must be water-based without chlorine and other harmful substances. You can find hand-painted wallpaper, such wallpaper can make any room special, but it also costs much more.
Vinyl (PVC)- a favorite of the wallpaper industry. Thanks to its strength characteristics and a surface that can be smooth or textured to hide wall imperfections, vinyl wallpaper has dominated the market for many decades. Unfortunately, PVC coating has significant disadvantages. Vinyl production is a process with significant environmental costs. Even vinyl wallpaper glued to the wall releases volatile emissions into the air. organic compounds(VOCs) and other pollutants. Some scientists have linked vinyl wallpaper to diseases such as asthma and cancer. But the greatest danger of PVC lies in its decomposition products: chlorine, dioxins (highly toxic substances) and phthalates. When burning and the temperature rises above 220 ° C, organochlorine compounds and heavy metals contained in PVC stabilizers are released, which can lead to human poisoning. Vinyl wallpaper does not “breathe”, which allows mold to accumulate between it and the wall in damp areas such as bathrooms.
Fireproof wallpaper— you should not purchase wallpaper with substances that prevent combustion (with the exception of wallpaper with borates, natural minerals), since these substances are released into the air over time.
VOC– may stand out for several years after gluing. Look for low-VOC or no-VOC wallpaper. Also, wallpaper adhesive should be low or no VOC.
Heavy metals– contained in some dyes become a real problem when they end up in a landfill. From there they can get to groundwater and then come back to us. By choosing wallpaper without heavy metals, you reduce the factors of quality deterioration drinking water for ourselves and future generations.
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