Cradle to Cradle

This book, by eco-pragmatists McDonough & Braungart, offers a fresh approach to modern environmental concerns and action. The whole book is made of a synthetic paper. It is printed on polypropylene sheets, a fully recyclable material that can be industrially converted in other books or any other objects.

Cradle to Cradle offers a fresh approach to modern environmental concerns and action. This book, written by eco-pragmatists William McDonough & Michael Braungart, is printed on polypropylene sheets, a fully recyclable material that can be industrially converted in other books or any other objects.

Source: http://flickr.com/photos/galessa/2711199463/. Author: galessa's plastics. Permission: creative commons 2.0.

Cradle to Cradle is a design paradigm that promotes producing products and services based on patterns found in nature, eliminating the concept of waste entirely and prioritizing health and sustainability.¹ By preventing waste and expanding reuse, recycling, and composting programs the Cradle to Cradle approach is a fast, cheap, and effective strategy available for combating climate change.²

'Cradle to Cradle' is the antidote to the 'Cradle to Grave' paradigm, where used products are typically dumped into landfills. Cradle to Cradle design takes its inspiration from nature, in which there is no place for the concept of waste, but in which waste = food. Long-term prosperity depends not on the efficiency of a fundamentally destructive system, but on the effectiveness of processes designed to be healthy and renewable in the first place. It transforms industry by perpetually circulating materials in closed loops. Maintaining materials in closed loops maximizes material value without damaging ecosystems.³

Significantly decreasing waste disposed in landfills and incinerators will reduce greenhouse gas emissions the equivalent to closing 21% of U.S. coal-fired power plants. This is comparable to leading climate protection proposals such as improving national vehicle fuel efficiency.⁴

Cradle-to-cradle design offers a framework for wholly positive human designs. Within this framework economies can be created that purify air, land, and water, that rely on current solar income and generate no toxic waste, that use safe, healthful materials that replenish the earth or can be perpetually recycled, and that yield benefits that enhance all life.³

Certification

Cradle to Cradle Certification is promulgated by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC). It is an eco-label that signals to companies and customers products pursuing credible and tangible human health, environmental health, material re-utilization and social considerations into product life cycle design, based on measurable achievement.³

The three tenets of Cradle to Cradle certification are: waste equals food, use current solar income and celebrate diversity.

Products and services that are Cradle to Cradle certified use environmentally safe and healthy materials; design for material re-utilization, such as recycling or composting; use renewable energy and energy efficiency; efficient use of water, and maximum water quality associated with production; and institute strategies for social responsibility.⁴

If a certification candidate achieves the necessary criteria, it is classified as a Silver, Gold or Platinum product or as a Technical/Biological Nutrient, and can be branded as Cradle to Cradle.

Cradle to Cradle certified products and services are being implemented in companies including but not limited to: Ford Motor Company, Nike, Herman Miller, and Victor Innovatex.