Erfurt has it covered

When it comes to design classics, it's the usual suspects that generally spring first to mind: the Braun 'Snow White' SK4 coffin, the Coke bottle, Eames chairs or the Swiss Army knife, to name a few. At the same time, there are also many successful and timeless products out there that one may not immediately think of, but which have nonetheless stayed the course across centuries.

German wallpaper expert Erfurt has a whole range of true classics in its programme. And no wonder, since the roots of the Wuppertal-based manufacturer go all the way back to the early 19th century. In 1827, Friedrich Erfurt founded his eponymous paper mill and in 1864, his grandson, Hugo Erfurt, developed a wall covering that has since become part of everyday life for many of us, namely woodchip wallpaper.

Though steeped in tradition, the company – which is still family-run – has not rested on its laurels, however. Its eyes are fixed also on the present and the future. This means reacting to social trends as well as those that currently shape the design of our interiors. Sustainability is a key contemporary trend and one that Erfurt has been aware of and active in for a long time.

Erfurt has used natural resources in the development of its products for many years. For example, preference is given to recycled paper as a fibre raw material, energy is used efficiently and much care is given to the sparing use of water. Being located directly on the River Wupper, the company has a special relationship with water, in particular: it makes use of this local resource, but wisely.

Another current trend relates to a growing preference for smooth walls. This offers Erfurt the opportunity to show that it is about much more than just woodchip. The company's Variovlies ECO 130 PLUS, ECO 150 PLUS and ECO GREEN is a series that responds to both of these trends all in one. In direct comparison to bare, smooth wall coverings, these three particular variants from the Variovlies family offer a range of advantages.

Variovlies, for example, allows for the creation of uniform wall surfaces and is well-suited to covering cracks. Surfaces can be re-painted several times and the paper is also simple to remove. Variovlies Eco Green is made of 100% recycled fibres and is the first CO2-neutral smooth nonwoven paper. CO2 neutrality is achieved by offsetting the necessary emissions. For this purpose, Erfurt supports selected climate protection projects together with ClimatePartner.

The use of defined grades of the best waste paper also gives Variovlies a brilliant white tone without any additives. It is also characterised by its very smooth surface, helping to enable particularly homogeneous coatings. Variovlies also helps to optimise the room climate, creates a feeling of cosiness and offers a look that comes very close to a plastered wall – without the disadvantages that come with it, such as flaking paint. In addition, the smooth nonwoven papers are open to diffusion and therefore help to regulate moisture within the space.

Variovlies wallpapers are also extremely easy to apply, and can be used on all wallpaperable surfaces. Their long-term environmental advantages are also clear. With Variovlies ECO 150 PLUS for example, walls are protected from dirt and signs of wear for many years and can be revitalised in a water- and energy-saving way if a change of colour or wallpaper is desired.

In many interior spaces, walls that need to be covered are made of plasterboard. It is advisable, however, not to apply paint to such surfaces directly. The application of Variovlies helps to circumvent this issue, with filled joints where the plasterboard edges meet practically disappearing. Thanks to its dimensional stability and wet tear resistance – due to the even distribution of the recycled polyester fibres – the moisture produced during wallpapering and painting cannot damage the wallpaper. This is a professional-quality product that is also suitable for hygiene-sensitive areas.

Variovlies was also developed, among other things, to be easy to work with, even for people without extensive wallpapering experience. All that needs to be done is to paste the wall, lay the wallpaper strip dry in the paste bed, apply the next strip edge to edge, paint the wall… and that's it. Erfurt also offers GIGA rolls in widths or lengths of 3.2 metres, so particularly advantageous for covering large-area walls. The regular measurement for Eco-Variovlies roll is 75cm wide by 25m long.

With all this said, it stands to reason that Erfurt would have a whole range of certificates related to ecological practices and environmental protection, including the Blue Angel, Oeko-Tex and EPD declarations to the RAL quality mark and the Green Product Award presented in 2019. Displayed at the company headquarters, the wallpaper products and framed awards form a neat symbiosis in terms of substance and aesthetics.

Photos © Erfurt Tapeten

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