Eco-Friendly Wallpaper — What to Look for and Why It Matters | Olive et Oriel
Eco-Friendly Wallpaper — What to Look for and Why It Matters
Wallpaper is having a moment in Australian homes — bold patterns in bedrooms, moody accent walls in dining rooms, playful prints in children's spaces. But as interest in wallpaper grows, so does awareness of what it's actually made of. Not all wallpaper is created equal, and some of it is decidedly not good for your home or the planet.
Here's everything you need to know about eco-friendly wallpaper — what to look for, what to avoid, and why Olive et Oriel's Australian-made wallpaper is a different proposition from the cheap imported alternatives flooding the market.
Every design is produced at our two manufacturing facilities on of NSW — crafting Australian wallpaper since 2015. Over 40 countries worldwide trust Olive et Oriel for premium custom wallpaper, with every order sized to your exact wall dimensions. Over a decade of experience means your installation will be seamless.
What Makes Wallpaper Eco-Friendly?
Eco-friendly wallpaper is defined by a combination of material, ink, and manufacturing factors. Here's what to look for:
- PVC-free substrates. This is the most important factor. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a plastic-based material used in many traditional and budget wallpapers. During manufacture and at end-of-life in landfill, PVC releases harmful plasticisers and chlorinated compounds. Eco-friendly wallpaper uses non-woven (polypropylene-based) or paper substrates instead.
- Water-based inks. Solvent-based inks contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that off-gas into your home environment. Water-based inks are the eco-friendly alternative — lower VOC, safer for indoor air quality, better for print workers.
- Zero VOC or low VOC certification. Particularly important in bedrooms and children's rooms where air quality during sleep is critical.
- FSC certification. For paper-substrate wallpapers, FSC certification verifies that paper is sourced from responsibly managed forests.
- Local manufacturing. Australian-made wallpaper has a significantly lower transport carbon footprint than wallpaper manufactured in China or Europe and shipped here.
Olive et Oriel's wallpaper meets all of these criteria — PVC-free, water-based ink-printed, and manufactured entirely in Australia.
The Problem with Cheap Vinyl Wallpaper
The budget wallpaper market — particularly online marketplaces — is dominated by vinyl (PVC) products. These are cheap to manufacture and import, which is why they flood search results. But the environmental and health trade-offs are significant:
- PVC contains plasticisers — chemical additives that keep it flexible. The most common type, phthalates, are known endocrine disruptors that can off-gas into your home environment.
- PVC in landfill is a long-term problem — it doesn't biodegrade, and breaks down over decades releasing plasticisers into soil and groundwater.
- Solvent-based printing inks used on many cheap imports contain VOCs that contribute to indoor air pollution.
The price difference between cheap vinyl imports and quality non-woven wallpaper isn't as large as it appears — especially when you factor in longevity, installation quality, and the ability to remove it cleanly without wall damage.
Peel & Stick vs Paste — Environmental Considerations
Peel-and-stick (self-adhesive): Slightly more material overall, but can be removed cleanly without damage — extending the life of your walls and reducing waste from replastering and repainting. For renters and those who like to change décor, this is a significant advantage. Look for non-PVC peel-and-stick options — ours are non-PVC.
Paste-the-wall: Generally uses less adhesive material overall, but removal typically requires wetting and scraping which can damage walls, leading to more extensive repair work. For permanent installations in owner-occupied homes, paste-the-wall non-woven wallpaper is a durable, long-lasting choice.
Olive et Oriel offers both options. Our wallpaper collection lets you choose the application method that suits your situation, without compromising on environmental credentials either way.
How to Dispose of Old Wallpaper Responsibly
- Non-woven wallpaper without PVC: Can go into general household waste in most Australian councils. Check your local council guidelines.
- PVC/vinyl wallpaper: Should ideally go to a materials recovery facility where PVC can be separated and processed rather than landfilled.
- Peel-and-stick wallpaper: If non-PVC (like ours), general waste is appropriate.
- Minimise wall damage during removal: Use a wallpaper scorer and proper removal solution to lift wallpaper cleanly, reducing wall repair material waste significantly.
Australian Manufacturing vs Imported Alternatives
Olive et Oriel is proudly Australian-made. Every panel of wallpaper we sell is printed at our Australian facility — not manufactured in bulk overseas and warehoused in generic patterns. This means:
- Custom sizing. We cut to your exact wall dimensions. No off-cuts, no waste, no buying a full roll when you need half.
- Ships in 24 hours. Because we print to order locally, your wallpaper ships within 24 hours. No six-week shipping containers from overseas.
- Lower transport emissions. Australian manufacturing significantly reduces the shipping footprint vs wallpaper manufactured in China or Europe.
- Quality control. We control every step of production — no outsourcing, no middlemen, no quality compromises.
- Support for Australian manufacturing. Every purchase from us supports Australian printing jobs and local industry.
Want to see before you commit? Order a $4.99 wallpaper sample — we print a physical sample of your chosen design so you can see the real colour and texture in your room before ordering a full roll.
Shop Eco-Friendly Australian Wallpaper
PVC-free, water-based inks, made in Australia — browse our coastal wallpaper collection:
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes wallpaper eco-friendly?
PVC-free substrates, water-based zero-VOC inks, and responsible sourcing. Olive et Oriel's wallpaper is PVC-free, water-based ink-printed, and made in Australia.
Is peel-and-stick wallpaper eco-friendly?
It depends on the material. Olive et Oriel's peel-and-stick uses a non-PVC substrate with water-based inks — significantly more sustainable than typical vinyl peel-and-stick.
How do I dispose of old wallpaper responsibly?
Non-PVC wallpaper can go in general waste. PVC/vinyl should go to a materials recovery facility. Check your local council guidelines for specific advice.
Why is Australian-made wallpaper better for the environment?
Significantly lower transport emissions vs imported alternatives. Olive et Oriel prints all wallpaper in Australia, custom-sized to your order, ships within 24 hours.
Can I order a wallpaper sample before committing?
$4.99 samples are available. See the actual printed colour and texture in your room before ordering a full roll.
