A world without waste
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
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Project Description
Cradle to Cradle® is used as the design principle for the Circular Economy across all industries. In this way, it supports a holistic and futureproof product development for companies to get on the right track and be part of the change towards a sustainable and truly circular future. Cradle to Cradle® can be used as a universal framework for products that are beneficial by being either fully biodegradable or recyclable on a very high quality level.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
Cradle to Cradle® is a design concept which is inspired by nature. It describes the safe and potentially infinite circulation of materials and nutrients in cycles. The aim is not only to minimise negative influences but also to create a positive ecological footprint. As a result, products, processes, buildings, and cities will emerge which are safe for humans, healthy for the environment, and successful for business.
Key objectives for sustainability
Within the Cradle to Cradle® design process, three key objectives serve as guidance for each project:
- Objective 1: Nutrients remain nutrients
- All constituents are chemically harmless and recyclable. Waste as we know it today and which is generated according to the pre-existing take-make-waste model will no longer exist, only useful nutrients.
- Objective 2: Use of renewable energy
- The creation of products and systems is powered by renewable energy of the sun in many ways. Wind power, hydroelectric power, geothermal energy, and biomass are sources of renewable energy.
- Objective 3: Support diversity
- Natural systems work and thrive through their complexity; i.e. nature promotes an almost infinite variety of designs, making systems flexible and resilient at the same time. When applying this principle to our economic and value system, biological, cultural, social, and conceptual diversity is promoted, and context-specific solutions are favoured.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The Cradle to Cradle® Design Methodology provides the framework for the use of healthy and circular materials. Within this framework a high potential of transformation of the linear economic model is achieved due to the gained transparency of materials even in complex supply chains. Cradle to Cradle® strongly supports the idea of beeing more good instead of less bad by seeing products and materials as nutrients and humans not as threat to the environment but as beneficials. This opens up the possibility of maintaining unlimited creativity in the design process of a product.
By encouraging designers and product developers to think outside the box of the linear production processes, new and innovative types of products and service systems can be established. For which all desired aesthetics can be met. One of the main ideas behind the concept is that there is no limitation in beauty, quality, and innovation.
Key objectives for inclusion
The Cradle to Cradle® principle itself is freely available and can be adapted to every industry and every professional level of enterprises. From big corporates to think tanks The Cradle to Cradle® vision basis gives indication and guidance to everyone interested in leaving a positive footprint and supporting this by healthy and circular products. With the Cradle to Cradle® principles good materials, clean water and clean air are the sideeffects of a positive defined world. Besides, the Cradle to Cradle® Design Methodology is a standardized certification standard, as well.
Results in relation to category
In the last years various products have been certified with the Cradle to Cradle Certified Products Standard.
Currently valid certifications are hold by 295 participating companies, 625 active certifications for 8000 products
This includes for example:
Auto & Tires: 4
Baby: 2
Building Supply and Materials: 11
Fashion & Textiles: 76
Health & Beauty: 22
Home & Office Supply: 62
Interior Design & Furniture: 217
Packaging & Paper: 38
Sport & Hobby: 1
Toys: 4
How Citizens benefit
Cradle to Cradle® is a holistic philosophy. Each product that is designed according to the Cradle to Cradle® principles is safe for humans and the environment and ready to be used endlessly. Not only the citizens who ome in direct contact with the produc benefit, but the society as a whole.
To give one example: A Cradle to Cradle® optimized production facility will emit process water which has drinking water quality, meaning the output water has a higher quality than the input water. Furthermore, the facility runs on renewable energy only, no harmful substances are emitted, and all carbon emissions are offset. Again society benefits from clean water, air, and soil linked to this production facility.
Innovative character
Cradle to Cradle® focuses on the optimization of a product step by step. Challenging the current linear economic system by every assessment on material level is one side effect that leads to new combinations and recipes supporting a healthy and circular future.
By integrating the principle to "design out waste" already in the early product stages the concept of waste gets obsolete already in in the design phase. This gives future generations a positive mindset to be creative and change the quallity of materials by setting the requirements already at the very beginning.
By brands and corporates requesting a Cradle to Cradle® quality from their suppliers, new industry solutions can be established also on a broader scale.
The Re-Formulation of existing materials is key and integrated with Cradle to Cradle® as a continuous improvement process.
