2016

Gujarat Cleaner Production Centre

Introduction to

Month: July

Published by: Gujarat Cleaner Production Centre

ENVIS Centre

Introduction to concept Cradle-to-Cradle

Month: July-August / Year: 2016

Cradle-to-Cradle

Ever since the industrial revolution, people have been prioritizing economic development. As a result products are designed and manufactured in a linear “Cradle to Grave” paradigm. This “Cradle to Grave” paradigm means that once a natural resource is excavated, it follows the one way route of processing, manufacturing, usage and disposal (where it contaminates the environment).

To compensate for the resulting resource depletion the slogan of the 3R (“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”) has been propagated. However, without making fundamental changes to product design, the environment continues to be contaminated, just at a slower rate. For example, current energy saving strategies simply prolong the lives of products or optimize them for down cycling (they cannot be recycled at the same quality as virgin material). Although this reduces the resources and energy consumption rate, the products still end up in the “grave” in the end.

To address this fundamentally flawed system the introduced. The basic concept of does-everything becomes a nutrient and can be returned to the environment or recycled without a loss of quality. Cradlemanagement, which enables product materials to be up cycled again and again

The term cradle-to-cradle (C2C) was coined in 1992 by William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart. They created a framework for quality assessment and innovation: theCradle Certified™ Products Program.

C2C certification ensures that products have met

Material Health: Value materials as nutrients for safe, continuous cycling Material Reutilization:

nutrients Renewable Energy: Power all operati Water Stewardship: Regard water as a precious resource Social Fairness: Celebrate all people and natural systems

Cradle-to-Cradle evaluates products and production processes to ensure they use healthy materials, clean energy, have responsible water use procedures and proper take back mechanisms in order to create an ecoCradle-to-Cradle design paradigm adheres to the following three principles:

is fundamentally flawed system the concept of “Cradle-to-Cradle” hasconcept of Cradle-to-Cradle is to use the same strategy that nature

everything becomes a nutrient and can be returned to the environment or recycled without a loss of quality. Cradle-to-Cradle is a design paradigm based on the idea of nutrient management, which enables product materials to be up cycled again and again

cradle (C2C) was coined in 1992 by William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart. They created a framework for quality assessment and innovation: the

Products Program.

products have met the following principles:

Value materials as nutrients for safe, continuous cyclingMaterial Reutilization: Maintain continuous flows of biological and technical

Power all operations with 100% renewable energyRegard water as a precious resource

Celebrate all people and natural systems

Cradle evaluates products and production processes to ensure they use healthy have responsible water use procedures and proper take back

mechanisms in order to create an eco-friendly supply chain. In pursuit of eco-effectiveness, the Cradle design paradigm adheres to the following three principles:

Cradle” has been Cradle is to use the same strategy that nature

everything becomes a nutrient and can be returned to the environment or recycled Cradle is a design paradigm based on the idea of nutrient

management, which enables product materials to be up cycled again and again.

cradle (C2C) was coined in 1992 by William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart. They created a framework for quality assessment and innovation: the Cradle to

Value materials as nutrients for safe, continuous cyclingMaintain continuous flows of biological and technical

ons with 100% renewable energy

Cradle evaluates products and production processes to ensure they use healthy have responsible water use procedures and proper take back

effectiveness, the

C2C eliminates the concept of waste

Waste does not exist in nature, because the processes of each organism contribute to the health of the whole ecosystem. Within this Cradle-to-Cradle framework, scientists, designers and engineers select safe materials and optimize products and services; creating closed-loop material flows that are inherently benign and sustainable throughout the production, use, and take back stages.

Cradle-to-Cradle design criteria

Design all products, processes and objects so that after their initial use all materials can be fully re-used in a biological or technological cycle. Avoid hybrid material streams that are very difficult to separate. Define the materials and their associated life cycle usage paths.

Make sure that no harmful or toxic substances are released or used in the production process and during the usage phase of the product or object.

Make sure that the production process and the use of the product or object create added value for the stakeholders.

Design on the basis of a Triple E (Economy, Ecology and Equity) approach. Use renewable energy sources such as the sun, wind and (ground) water. Respect the diversity of the location, species, innovation and culture. Protect and maintain the quality of water reserves. Carry out the production process with social responsibility. That means no child or

forced labor, no unhealthy workplaces, no discrimination and with freedom of association.

Follow a local approach in the production process. Make intentions transparent and translate them into measurable targets. Concrete

targets can be reached by drawing up a roadmap with milestones.

“A Cradle to Cradle building adds value and celebrates innovation and enjoyment by; measurably enhancing the quality of materials, biodiversity, air and water; using current solar income; being deconstructable and recyclable, and performing diverse practical and life enhancing functions for its stakeholder’s.

GUJARAT CLEANER PRODUCTION CENTRE ENVIS CENTRE ON: CLEANER PRODUCTION & CLEAN TECHNOLOGY

SUPPORTED BY: MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST & CLIMATE CHANGE, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA EMAIL: gcpc-env@nic.in WEBSITE: www.gcpcenvis.nic.in