What about cork? They make the adhesive backed kind specifically for shelf lining and rolls without adhesive. I didn't do the math, so I'm not sure how much it woul cost per cabinet.

I can't get the link to paste in the right place using the iPad, but if you search for cork shelf liner on Amazon, it will come up.

Cork is eco friendly and affordable. You can save a lot of money by buying cork in a in a big roll w/o adhesive. I got a roll of 1/8 thick Wayfair for about $60. Home Depot also has rolls.

Here is a link that might be useful: 1/8 thick cork roll

For what purpose are you lining the shelves?

For ease of cleaning?
For decorative purposes?
For cushioning against small jolts?
For quiet?

How about fabric? I'm thinking of something along the line of thick linen (real 100% flax), neatly hemmed flat, or just overcast/serged if it's too thick for hemming.

Or if it's for cushioning (say in a deep drawer where dishes are stored) then fabric covers over thin pads made from Quiet-Table felting.

Fabrics would be inexpensive and completely washable and re-usable. If you decided to go for another look, they'd easily be repurposed as cleaning or drying cloths, depending on what they were made of.

If you just want a thin layer, try butchers' paper cut to size in one or two layers. You could eventually reuse that to start fires.

HTH,

L.

My grandmother just used old newspaper cut "paper doll" style into decorative doily shapes on the edging. I don;t think you can get more eco friendly than recycled newspapers! The main purpose of using it was to keep the stored items from sticking to the painted shelves. Today's modern melamine lined cabinets do not functionally need shelf liner to keep dishes from sticking or to protect the shelves from damp dishes. The only functional reason for it is if you have very delicate dishes that would chip if you set them down a bit hard.