Cradle to Cradle (C2C) is a sustainability model that mimics natural processes to benefit the environment during product manufacture and use. Components are divided into technical and organic categories, with the aim of creating closed production cycles and no waste. The term was coined by Walter Stahel in the 1970s, and companies that embrace the philosophy work on creating products that actively benefit the environment.
The term Cradle To Cradle or “C2C” is used to describe a sustainability model that mimics natural processes, with the aim of enriching and benefiting the environment even during the manufacture and use of products. The principle behind this concept is that there is no waste in nature: when a tree falls, for example, it is not thrown away, but rather broken down into components for the benefit of the surrounding environment. By using these techniques, manufacturers can mimic nature and ensure that little or nothing is wasted.
Walter Stahel is credited with coining the term in the 1970s. A number of people worked to implement the cradle-to-cradle idea and develop standards that could be used in product certification. The term is intended to contrast with the cradle-to-grave approach in most manufacturing, where products are discarded after they have outlived their usefulness.
In cradle-to-cradle manufacturing, components are divided into “technical” and “organic” categories. A technical component is a non-toxic synthetic product created with respect for the environment. It is also designed to be used over and over again in a closed loop, with the manufacturer avoiding “downcycling”. A classic example of downcyling is paper, which can start out as a sheet of bleached stationery before being recycled into a lower grade recycled paper, which can then be recycled back into an even rougher paper or board product. and so on.
The biological components are of biological origin and can be naturally broken down and returned to the environment after use. A cup of cornstarch is an example of a biological component, as it can be used and then composted, with the compost providing nutrients to a crop, garden or natural area.
Companies that embrace the C2C philosophy work on creating products that can actively benefit the environment and on creating closed production cycles that allow them to continue using the same technical components over and over again, rather than discarding them. One of the key concepts is the idea that “waste is food”, which actually means that there should be no waste products in cradle-to-cradle production, because the products can be reused and returned to the cycle, or broken down organically to use as food for the natural environment.
This environmentally friendly approach to manufacturing can also be applied to other areas of life, such as running a household. Some critics of the cradle-to-cradle philosophy argue that restricting the ability to certify to a small group of individuals goes against the stated goal of popularizing the concept and encouraging people to adopt it.
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