The transition from managing a $500 million green infrastructure portfolio at the World Bank to refining the curve of a handcrafted chair might seem like a radical pivot. However, for a Carbon Market Architect, the distance between global policy and physical design is shorter than it appears. Both disciplines demand a relentless focus on permanence, structural integrity, and the rejection of disposable trends. I launched Garofano not as a departure from my climate mission, but as a tangible extension of it.
The Architecture of Enduring Value
My career has been defined by the pursuit of high-integrity assets. At the World Bank and through my work in the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), I learned that the most valuable assets are those designed to withstand the scrutiny of time and shifting regulations. In the world of climate finance, we call this permanence; in the world of design, we call it heritage.
I grew up between France and Italy, immersed in a culture where furniture was never a fleeting consumer good. It was a structural component of a home’s legacy—pieces were chosen with intention, repaired when necessary, and passed down through generations. Garofano was born from the realization that the modern furniture market has mirrors of the “junk carbon” problem: a flood of low-quality, disposable products that prioritize immediate margins over long-term value. By applying the same rigor I use to structure a Carbon Credit Transaction, I am building furniture that refuses to become waste.
From Policy Mandates to Physical Assets
There is a profound synergy between navigating international transport economics and sourcing sustainable timber. My experience leading complex infrastructure projects taught me that “green” is not a marketing label—it is a result of meticulous sourcing and verifiable standards. When we select materials for Garofano, we aren’t just looking for aesthetic appeal; we are looking for a supply chain that reflects the same transparency required in a high-stakes environmental audit.
Launching a design-led brand is my way of marketizing a personal philosophy. Just as a well-structured carbon project must provide verifiable climate impact, a piece of furniture must provide functional and emotional longevity. We are moving away from an era of “fast everything.” Whether it is a carbon offset used to meet a corporate net-zero goal or a dining table used for decades of family gatherings, the underlying value is the same: integrity.
The Future of Intentional Living
The global fight against climate change is increasingly moving toward market-driven mechanisms that value quality above all else. Garofano represents my commitment to this shift on a human scale. It is an invitation to treat the objects in our homes with the same financial and ethical rigor we apply to our investment portfolios.
We are not just selling furniture; we are advocating for a return to intentionality. By bridging the gap between high-level policy and the objects we touch every day, we can create a legacy that is both environmentally responsible and enduringly beautiful.
Discover the philosophy behind our collections. Explore the Garofano Portfolio to see how we are redefining the intersection of global expertise and artisanal design.
