Durable and easy to maintain, vinyl upholstery has become a go-to choice for commercial applications, and there is now a variety of sustainable alternatives available. These eco-friendly faux leathers have the look and feel of a textile or leather, with the superior resilience and functionality of vinyl, and many sustainability features that benefits users as well as the natural environment.

If you are looking for sustainable alternatives to vinyl upholstery, Materialised offers an extensive range of sustainable faux leathers with diverse colour palettes, designs and textures suitable for any commercial project brief and budget.

EPU Leathers

EPUs are solvent-free sustainable polyurethane (PU) faux leathers that are made of 100% EPU polyurethane. EPU leather is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) free, uses zero water, has zero waste chemicals, and uses zero solvents during production.

Materialised’s range of EPUs, which includes Dexter, Printwork and Endurance EPUs from Momentum Textiles, are created using a new superior molecular structure that yields reduced environmental impact and increased performance. All are GREENGUARD Certified, meaning they have been tested and scientifically proven to have low chemical emissions.

Perfect for contract, hospitality, healthcare, dental, and marine applications, Endurance EPU is at the top of performance table, offering a rub rate of 1,000,000 double rubs (Wyzenbeek) and superior hydrolysis resistance at 15 weeks. The result is a resilient surface that offers extreme durability and the ability to withstand exposure to extended periods of heat and humidity.

Silicone and Silicone Hybrids

Silicone is made from sand naturally occurring in the environment and has extremely high performing properties. Materialised offers a range of silicone and silicone hybrid textiles with attributes that are ideal for contract applications.

Hayden Chalk, Santa Fe Antelope and Silex New Sand are 100 per cent silicone textiles with a 100 per cent polyester double knit backing, allowing better recovery and four-way stretch for easier upholstering. Phthalate and PVC-Free, these products meet a variety of health and sustainability standards while offering outstanding performance and cleanability.

Developed by Momentum Textiles, Silica is one of the most sustainable alternatives to vinyl upholstery. The Silica faux leather range is known for its aesthetics and sustainability. It is also inherently antimicrobial and GREENGUARD Gold Certified. In addition, Silica is inherently cleanable with all tested stains easily removed with only a damp cloth.

Momentum Textiles have also created hybrids that combine the best of both silicone and polyurethane. Made of 70% PVC-free polyurethane and 30% silicone, Silica Blend and Silica Suede are innovative additions to the Silica family, offering exceptional tactility and notable performance that is competitive with other luxurious coated products.

Clean Vinyls

Available in a myriad of colour and designs, Clean Vinyl is a new category of phthalate-free, faux leather upholstery fabric, also by Momentum Textiles. The inaugural Clean Vinyl upholstery collection featured three distinctive patterns – Evo CV, Tribeca CV and Vanguard CV – designed to offer a versatile range of textures and colors that work well across many different applications. Today, the collection includes new designs that encompass an expansive array of patterns, styles and colours.

Like other Momentum textiles, Clean Vinyl is GREENGUARD Certified. All Clean Vinyl patterns contain no chemicals of concern, with the Health Product Declaration documentation to back up those claims. Every component of Clean Vinyl upholstery is carefully evaluated, resulting in a product that meets strict requirements for sustainability and performance.

To learn more, get Materialised’s handy sustainable faux leather guide or visit their website.

Materialised
materialised.com.au