Eco by Design
3 Categories of Smarter Material Solutions
High-performance wallcoverings and textiles across the material spectrum.
In today’s commercial design landscape, priorities are shifting. More clients are asking for materials that not only perform well but also support healthier environments—indoors and out. Whether you're navigating code requirements, aiming for certifications, or working with clients who value mindful materials, your choices matter.
That’s why Momentum offers a spectrum of products for every project—from tried-and-true performance vinyls to bio-based and PVC-free innovations. Each option is thoughtfully designed to meet different performance needs and budgets while supporting long-term environmental goals.
Rather than presenting a hierarchy, we believe in empowering designers with flexible, informed options. Think of it as a toolkit: every material is held to high standards of durability, quality, and innovation—some just go even further in minimizing impact.
Below, we’ve broken down 3 key eco-minded material categories to show the range, breadth, and depth of our more and most environmentally progressive offerings. Every choice makes a difference—and there’s power in specifying with intention.
Clean Vinyl Textiles & Wallcovering
What Is It?
Clean Vinyl is a commercial-grade, Type II vinyl wallcovering that is free of phthalates, heavy metals, or added antimicrobials. It’s designed to meet stringent cleanability and durability standards while supporting better indoor air quality.
How It Stands Out:
A high-performing standard—cleaner chemistry, familiar function.
Clean Vinyl is an affordable and durable go-to solution for demanding spaces across any market. These high-performance wallcoverings are bleach cleanable, stain resistant, and engineered with a cleaner chemistry profile—free of unwanted additives but still highly durable.
Not just for walls—Clean Vinyl upholstery brings the same safer chemistry and lasting durability, and is always free of phthalates, flame retardants, and heavy metals. All of Momentum’s Clean Vinyl choices are certified to leading indoor air quality standards, including Greenguard Gold, for low VOC emissions.
Explore Clean Vinyl Upholstery Options Explore Clean Vinyl Type II Wallcovering Options
Strengths of Clean Vinyl:
Proven performance in high-traffic environments
Bleach cleanable and stain resistant
Phthalate-free, heavy metal-free, and no added antimicrobials
BIFMA Compliant and Greenguard Gold certified
Cost-effective and widely accepted
Considerations:
Petrochemical-based, not bio-based or PVC-free
Difficult to recycle, often no take-back programs, and does not biodegrade
Does not meet vinyl-free or LEED-restricted criteria
Seen at left: Type II wallcovering Sakura in Vapor colorway from Versa—a serene, shibori-inspired stripe, scaled to complement Hanami and coordinate with Hanami Silk.
Circon® (Bio-Based Type II Vinyl Wallcovering)
What Is It?
Circon is the industry’s first Type II vinyl wallcovering that is both bio-based and carbon neutral. It uses renewable, plant-based inputs instead of fossil fuels and maintains all the durability of standard vinyl.
How It Stands Out:
A next-gen solution: carbon neutral, bio-based, and built to perform.
Circon redefines what’s possible in wallcovering. Priced competitively with conventional vinyl yet designed to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, it’s made with bio-sourced content and developed through extensive R&D to achieve carbon neutrality.It’s recyclable through our take-back program and certified to the highest sustainability standards, including NSF/ANSI 342 Platinum, HPD, EDP, and Greenguard Gold certifications.
Plus, Circon is available as a substrate for any custom digital wallcovering project—including designs from our Digital Art Gallery—offering a more sustainable foundation for your creative vision.
Explore Circon Explore Exclusive Circon Collection
Strengths of Circon:
Bio-based construction with lower carbon footprint
Versatile substrate option for all Digital Creations—print-ready or custom
Certified carbon neutral
Fully recyclable through Momentum’s take-back program
Meets or exceeds performance of traditional vinyl
HPD (Health Product Declaration) & EPD (Environmental Product Declaration)
Considerations:
Still categorized as vinyl—may not qualify for non-vinyl specs
Fewer patterns available compared to legacy collections
Availability may vary regionally
Seen at left: Circon pattern Loma in Natural Spring colorway—a bio-based Type II wallcovering with bold yet zen geometry, inspired by the contours of Southwestern landscapes.
PVC-Free Wallcovering & Textiles
What Is It?
PVC-Free wallcoverings and coated textiles are made without polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and also free of chlorine, plasticizers, and phthalates. These options include materials like TPO, cellulose/poly blends, silicone, polyurethane, and EPU.
How It Stands Out:
Top-tier sustainability—PVC-free, people-safe, and planet-forward.
Momentum’s PVC-Free offerings span a full spectrum of non-vinyl innovation—formulated for durability, sustainability, and design. From Type II wallcoverings made with thermoplastic olefin (TPO) to award-winning Bio-Silica Hybrids—a next-gen blend of silicone and bio-based polyurethane with a recycled backing—and high-performance polyurethane textiles, these sustainable materials are ideal for projects that prioritize healthier spaces and forward-thinking design—with a planet-friendly edge ahead of Clean Vinyl and Circon.
Fun highlights include vibrant PVC-Free collaborations like Yinka Ilori’s wallcoverings and our top-rated Silica™ collection.
Explore All PVC Free Textile Options Explore All PVC Free Wallcovering Options
Strengths of PVC Free:
PVC-, chlorine-, and phthalate-free
Certified low-VOC and BIFMA Compliant
Available across wallcoverings and coated textiles
Ideal for LEED, WELL, and mindful materials projects
Includes top performers like Silica™ and Endurance EPU™
Considerations:
Higher price point than vinyl options
Some options may require specific adhesives or wall prep
Slightly lower abrasion resistance in ultra-heavy-use zones
Availability may vary by pattern or product line
Seen at left: Flitter Print in Driftwood colorway—an organically expressive Bio-Silica Hybrid textile from our Better by Nature collection, designed to reflect sustainability at every layer.
One Spec Sheet Doesn't Fit All
Choosing the right material depends on your project’s priorities—be it compliance, performance, budget, or environmental goals. With a full spectrum of wallcoverings and textiles, Momentum makes it easy to balance beauty, durability, and forward-thinking, eco-conscious design.
We’re here to meet you where you are—and help your next project go where it’s headed.
For more eco-mindful inspiration, visit our Sustainability overview, explore our news and CEUs, and see what’s new online at momentumtextilesandwalls.com.
Sources
EcoLogic Furniture: “Benefits of PVC-Free Vinyl” https://ecologicfurniture.com/benefits-of-pvc-free-vinyl/
Metropolis: “What Can We Do About PVC?” https://metropolismag.com/products/what-can-we-do-about-pvc/