Ten years ago, most manufacturers used inks with solvents to produce wall coverings. Today, most wall coverings are manufactured using water-soluble inks with no heavy metals such as lead, mercury, chromium or cadmium. New products have and are being introduced that will give designers and their clients that are concerned about the environment more choices. And the increased demand for environmental friendly products will drive manufactures to become even more diligent in this area. Designers can select from products that use harvested wood pulp from managed forests in their production.
Many wall coverings have extremely low-flame spread and smoke developed ratings.
Other selection criteria for an environmentally friendly installation should be discussed with the manufacturer. Any product that is used for a project has installation and maintenance requirements that must be followed. Not adhering to the manufacturer's guidelines for either installation or maintenance can reduce both the quality and the life of the product. Wall coverings are no exception. At this point, it is appropriate to mention the importance of working with a professional and experienced wall covering installer.