From Arper the zero emissions chair, made with 29 sheets of paper

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«It’s revolutionary. Point”. Roberto Monti, CEO of Arper, doesn’t mince words: he explains the technical details of the innovative seat presented at the Salone del Mobile in Milan, the Catifa Carta, and then concludes by admitting that the material with which it was made, the PaperShell , is destined to mark a turning point not only in the environmental responsibility path of the Veneto company, but also of the sector.

It all started five years ago, when two Swedish entrepreneurs, a designer and a materials researcher, came to the Arper stand at the Salone del Mobile, who had founded Papershell, producing a material derived from wood waste, transformed into 29 sheets of “paper” and pressed together through biogenic materials (therefore sustainable and 100% natural), which to the touch and sight feels like soft plastic or eco-leather. From there a collaboration began that made it possible to present the Catifa Carta body this year, reediting and innovating an icon of the Venetian company, the Catifa 53 designed in 2001 by Lievore Altherr Molina.

PaperShell drastically reduces Catifa Carta’s impact on the environment, explains Monti, given that, being made from wood waste, it stores carbon dioxide, just like trees. Not only that: at the end of its life cycle, thanks to a further partnership with a Swedish company, the material can be reduced to “biochar”, i.e. a vegetable carbon that has the ability to retain the CO2 sequestered during previous life stages.

For Roberto Monti, Catifa Carta is the culmination of a journey that has seen the company (around 70 million euros in turnover, 93% generated abroad) invest decisively in the cultural transformation of people and the approach industrial. But it is also the starting point for new products and projects that will be developed in the coming years.

«Arper continues on its journey towards sustainable design, started in 2005 – says Monti -. Catifa Carta is a testament to our ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility. An arrival and starting point for design and a significant step on our path towards a more sustainable future. For us, collaborating with partners – like Papershell – to cultivate innovative developments, is crucial to offering relevant solutions in today’s ever-evolving landscape. By introducing pioneering materials and conscious practices we aspire to inspire change and become an example of responsible business.”