Catifa Carta PaperShell chair, a re-engineered evolution of Arper’s iconic Catifa 53, marks a pivotal new era for eco friendly design chairs and a definitive step towards achieving a carbon negative design profile. This product, which cements Arper’s commitment to redefine beauty through advanced sustainable design, is centered on the revolutionary Arper PaperShell material. It is composed of 29 layers of paper bonded with a natural resin, an innovation so profound that the end-of-life process involves conversion into pyrolysis biochar. This comprehensive approach ensures that the chair is not just innovative, but also fully compliant with the highest standards of circularity.
Swedish wood production turning forestry waste into a high-performance
The chair’s reinterpretation is focused on the revolutionary PaperShell material, an innovation derived from paper that sequesters carbon dioxide. The shell is not merely paper; it is precisely composed of 29 layers of paper bonded with a natural resin binder. This construction provides the requisite strength and comfort essential to Catifa’s iconic, bi-curved silhouette while dramatically reducing the product’s environmental impact. The raw material for this Arper PaperShell is ethically sourced, utilizing sawdust, chips, and branches derived from Swedish wood production, turning forestry waste into a high-performance, durable composite.
Arper’s pursuit of a fully carbon negative design profile is relentlessly innovative. A refined PaperShell base is actively being developed in collaboration with the Nco2Factory research project, an initiative focused on realizing the full climate-positive potential of these new materials.
Beyond the core shell, comfort is also addressed with ecological precision. A new BREATHAIR® seat cushion is introduced, a technological advancement that is flexible, highly durable, and fully recyclable. This elastomeric polyester is shaped to perfectly integrate with the Catifa Carta PaperShell chair, combining softness with the material’s exposed, authentic natural aesthetic. Furthermore, the design incorporates fully removable and adhesive-free covers, ensuring the product can be easily replaced, repaired, or disassembled, significantly extending its lifecycle and simplifying end-of-life management.
The life cycle of the Catifa Carta PaperShell chair is truly circular. At the end of its useful life, the shell can be subjected to pyrolysis, a highly controlled, oxygen-free thermal process. This pyrolysis successfully prevents the release of CO2 back into the atmosphere and converts the shell into pyrolysis biochar.
This pyrolysis biochar is a stable form of carbon—containing up to 90% carbon—that is then used as a highly effective soil enhancement tool. By restoring the earth’s natural richness, the biochar supports biodiversity, effectively turning the waste material into a resource that continues to sequester CO2, firmly establishing the chair as a benchmark for carbon negative design. This commitment to full-scale circularity ensures the new Catifa Carta sets a profound new standard for the furniture industry.
The Barcelona-based studio, distinguished by its multidisciplinary approach encompassing furniture, interior, and product design, has been recognized with numerous national and international awards, including the prestigious Spanish National Design Award in 1999. Their long-standing partnership with Arper has led to some of the brand’s most influential collections, including Duna and Leaf, and has made the Catifa chair—and now the Catifa Carta PaperShell chair—a timeless icon defined by its elegant curves, sleek silhouette, and enduring commitment to intelligent design.
Catifa Carta PaperShell chair
Lievore Altherr Molina
Founded in 1991 by Alberto Lievore, Jeannette Altherr, and Manel Molina, Lievore Altherr Molina is recognized worldwide for its humanist approach to design. Their philosophy consistently seeks a profound balance between aesthetics and comfort, producing pure and beautiful forms that conform to the rules of function and context.
Distinguished by an interdisciplinary method encompassing furniture, interior, and product design, the Barcelona-based studio has been recognized with numerous national and international awards, including the prestigious Spanish National Design Award in 1999. Their long-standing partnership with Arper has led to some of the brand’s most influential collections, such as Duna and Leaf, and has made the Catifa chair—and now the Catifa Carta PaperShell chair—a timeless icon defined by its elegant curves, sleek silhouette, and enduring commitment to intelligent design.
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