mindset.

Credit: Michael Braungart and William McDonough

Summary:

The cradle to cradle model is an approach to the design of products and systems where the materials are viewed as nutrients in healthy and safe metabolism. Nutrients are either ‘technical’ or ‘biological’. Technical nutrients are non-toxic synthetic materials made by humans that can be used in continuous cycles  as the same product without losing their integrity. In essence these nutrients can be used repeatedly without being down cycled to a lesser product. Biological nutrients are organic materials that can decompose in the natural environment.  It is a framework consistent with the ‘circular economy’ that considers economic, social, and environment factors, and seeks to create products via systems that are essentially waste free. Playing on the popular phrase ‘cradle to grave’, the ‘cradle to cradle’ model promotes sustainability and wise use of the planet’s finite resources, while being mindful of the welfare of future generations.

Real world application:

Packaging material ‘Biofoam’ that is made entirely of biological nutrients, such as soy oil and cellulose. Once used the packaging can be disposed of in the natural environment as it is compostable. This is an alternative to expanded polystyrene – a petroleum based product that lasts hundreds of years before breaking down.

Concept detail:

As described on William McDonough’s website (see link to the right), Cradle to Cradle is a design framework characterised by three principles derived from nature:

Everything is a resource for something else. In nature, the “waste” of one system becomes food for another. Everything can be designed to be disassembled and safely returned to the soil as biological nutrients, or re-utilized as high quality materials for new products as technical nutrients without contamination.

Use clean and renewable energy. Living things thrive on the energy of current solar income. Similarly, human constructs can utilize clean and renewable energy in many forms—such as solar, wind, geothermal, gravitational energy and other energy systems being developed today—thereby capitalizing on these abundant resources while supporting human and environmental health.

Celebrate diversity. Around the world, geology, hydrology, photosynthesis and nutrient cycling, adapted to locale, yield an astonishing diversity of natural and cultural life. Designs that respond to the challenges and opportunities offered by each place fit elegantly and effectively into their own niches.