29 October 2025
© Andy Liffner
Arper Showroom, Milan
Opening 29 October 2025
At Arper, we believe meaningful design must also be responsible. 1kg CO₂e by designer and sustainability advocate Emma Olbers brings the climate impact of materials into clear view. By visualizing how much of a given material equals one kilogram of CO₂e, the exhibition offers a direct way to understand the consequences of our choices—and the potential of better ones.
When talking about the exhibition, Emma Olbers says: “I’ve been thinking about the climate impact of furniture and materials for a long time — searching for a simple way to make a positive difference through the choices we make. We’ve just crossed the first year with global warming above 1.5°C. With less than five years to 2030 — when emissions must be halved from 1990 levels — the curves are still rising. It’s time for bold decisions and action.”
We share the conviction that our industry must transform. Reducing emissions is a collective effort that spans design, sourcing, production, logistics, use, and end of life. Hosting 1kg CO₂e reflects our commitment to transparency and to actionable progress, made visible and measurable.
Arper’s sustainability journey focuses on circular thinking and long-term value: designing for durability and repair, simplifying components, and selecting lower-impact materials verified through data. We are working to reduce our footprint through the use of recycled, renewable, and responsibly sourced inputs, and by improving processes across the full lifecycle—without compromising comfort, quality, or timeless expression. Explore our approach and progress on our Sustainability page.
At Arper, material choices shape every design. This approach comes to life in two recent collections—Catifa Carta and Catifa (RE) 46—whose materials are also presented in the exhibition:
Catifa Carta — a PaperShell shell that explores elegant tactility and lower-impact construction and end of life, advancing renewable content in seating design.
Catifa (RE) 46 — a re-engineered evolution of an Arper icon, realized with post-consumer and post-industrial plastic, designed for longevity, disassembly, and circularity.
Visit the Arper Showroom in Milan to discover the installations and scan the QR code in situ to learn more about our sustainability path, Catifa Carta, and Catifa (RE) 46.
Arper showroom, Milan
Via Pantano, 30
October 29 – December 23
Opening hours: 9-13, 14-18
