Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Arc de Triomphe wrapping materials to be recycled

The polypropylene fabric and ropes used to wrap the Arc de Triomphe in Paris for Christo and Jeanne-Claude's posthumous installation in 2021 will be recycled into shading structures and tents for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The initiative, led by environmental organization Parley for the Oceans, aims to repurpose 25,000 square meters of silver polypropylene and 3,000 meters of red rope. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo called it an example of the art world addressing climate challenges. The wood and steel from the installation have already been recycled by Les Charpentiers de Paris, ArcelorMittal, and Derichebourg Environnement. Parley for the Oceans founder Cyrill Gutsch emphasized the project's symbolic value as a testament to imagination and a step toward a new economy free from harmful practices.