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Understanding “Cradle to Cradle”
Cradle to Cradle Design “Cradle to Cradle” is a new design principle. Instead of designing prod-
ucts to last from “cradle” to “grave,” under a new paradigm a product is
designed so that when it is used product becomes new “raw” material
for other products. Also known as a closed loop system, this model
differs from traditional recycling, where products are “down-cycled”
into lower quality components or products. In a closed loop system
materials are fully reusable and mimic natural ecological systems. This
phrase was originally coined by Walter Stahel, but it has been
popularized by William McDonough’s book of the same name and has
now become widely adopted as a new way of thinking of product design.
Companies and engineers are now devising creative ways to design
products that are not only fully recyclable, but that can actually be
disassembled and reused in new products.
Cradle to Cradle Certification Products meeting rigorous environmental, safety and transparency standards can receive Cradle to Cradle® certification. This certification goes beyond many other environmental certifications because it considers the degree to which a product is designed for future life cycles. The criteria are:
1. Material Health
2. Material Reutilization
3. Renewable Energy Use
4. Water Stewardship
5. Social Responsibility
Prepared by the Product Stewardship Institute For more information visit: http://www.mbdc.com/
“Material Reutilization” It is the requirement that sets this certifica-
tion apart from other environmental certifi-
cations. To encourage moving beyond the
idea of “waste,” companies are rewarded
for designs that “encourage the recyclabil-
ity of the product for future uses.” Products
receive a higher level of certification if they
contain recycled or renewable materials
and are “designed to be recycled as techni-
cal or biological nutrients in future life cy-
cles.” The highest certification level re-
quires companies create truly “closed loop”
production processes.
Product Designs that have achieved Cradle to Cradle Certification:
The products that have achieved
certification include:
Furniture & fabrics
Cleaning products
Personal care products
Electrical goods & lighting
Paper & packaging
Whiteboards & window Shades
Similar to other certifications there are several levels of
certification a product can receive depending on the number of
criteria they fulfill. A few of the required criteria are listed here:
1. Basic
2. Silver
3. Gold
4. Platinum: To achieve the highest certification level a
company must be actively recovering products in a closed
loop production system. Companies must use 100% renew-
able energy during final assembly (and 50% throughout the
supply chain). They must also achieve the highest bar for
their material reutilization score. There must also meet
water conservation and social responsibility standards.
Product design is the first step to making products that are safer for consumers and better for the environment. Small beneficial changes at the beginning multiply throughout the lifecycle.
Eliminating harmful substances in the first stage is the most
effective way to reduce their overall impact.
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