Events, Case studies, Announcements
International Cradle to Cradle® conference San Francisco May 24 -25
The International Cradle to Cradle community pays tribute to the people of San Francisco and its mayor for their commitment to the future.
News
News
Materials
Construction Specialties Releases On-Product Transparency Label for Core Product Acrovyn® 4000
In a groundbreaking move, Construction Specialties has launched a transparency label for their acclaimed, Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Gold interior wall protection product, Acrovyn® 4000.
Materials, Design
The Time is Right for Cradle to Cradle Certification
"There is a move towards greater transparency, multi-attribute assessment vs. single attribute, closed-loop recycling, and a more comprehensive approach to valuing certifications according to depth, transparency, and rigor."
Events, Other, Policy, Announcements
Cradle to Cradle Certified Products Featured in NASA’s Sustainability Base
NASA's new Sustainability Base - one of the most ecologically advanced buildings on the planet - was unveiled Friday in Mountain View, CA., with seven Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM products as a part of its design.
Events, Announcements
Cradle to Cradle Now Hiring for Healthcare Sector Specialist
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is seeking a Sector Specialist in Health Care to advance the adoption of Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM products in the industry. The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable about Cradle to Cradle® design principles and can communicate a vision and need for these products in the Health Care sector. The Sector Specialist must also be able to work collaboratively with industry stakeholders to advance the Institute's mission.
People, Design, Policy
Stacy Glass to Speak at Living Future Conference
Executive in Residence Stacy Glass will be speaking as a part of the "Women In Green: Voices of Sustainability" panel at the Living Future Conference, May 2-4, 2012 in Portland, OR.
Events, People, Announcements
Position Open for Senior Science and Policy Manager
Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute hiring for a Senior Science and Policy Manager.
Position: The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is seeking to fill the senior leadership position of Senior Science and Policy Manager. The ideal candidate will be a recognized leader in the field of chemistry or related sciences who can communicate a vision for the Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM program and work with stakeholders worldwide to achieve that vision.
Materials, Design, Policy
Cradle to Cradle: Like Recycling on Natural Organic Whole Grain Steroids
Several years ago, when I first heard of cradle-to-cradle (C2C) design, I thought, “This will never work. It’s too great an idea.” Two recent bits of news make me think I might have been wrong.
One news item was the announcement that the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute has joined The Sustainability Consortium. The other news item is the release of the first certifications for products under the Cradle to Cradle Certified protocol.
It might not be obvious why these announcements are significant, but I’ll try to explain. Their amazingness is rooted in the extreme ambition and rigor of the cradle-to-cradle vision.
Materials, Design
Cradle to Cradle Certified AGC Glass Featured in New Park 20/20 Building
Construction of the second office at the Park 20|20 business park in Hoofddorp is now in progress. AGC, the only Cradle to Cradle® glass manufacturer in Europe, is supplying the glass for this special project.
The fact that AGC has subsequently been C2C certified was the reason behind project developer Delta’s decision to award the contract to AGC. The C2C certification dovetails perfectly with Park 20|20’s philosophy to continue searching for the most sustainable solutions within the framework of socially responsible enterprise and FOX’s ambition to construct an extremely durable building.
Case studies
Desso’s Stef Kranendijk in the Harvard Business Review: I Got My Strategy from Greenpeace
People, Policy, Announcements
President Bridgett Luther Appointed to the EPA National Advisory Council
SAN FRANCISCO - On Feb. 23, 2012, Institute President Bridgett Luther, as a representative of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, was invited to be a member of the Environmental Protection Agency's National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology Committee.
Events, Materials, Design
Built Environment Update: LEED 2012 Action Steps
In this update:
• The Institute partners with industry leaders in joint statement to the USGBC advocating for performance standards such as the Cradle to Cradle certifiedCM program.
• LEED 2012 public comment period opens – we need your participation
• The Institute meets with USGBC LEED Staff
Events, Materials
Turning Green to Gold
By Ken Tameling, General Manager
At Steelcase, we know the way to remain an industry leader in providing the best products IN the world is to ensure that they are the best products FOR the world.
That’s why every step of the way – through design, manufacturing, delivery and product lifecycles – we consider the impact of our work on humans and the environment and uncover opportunities to make things better. A recent example where we successfully found a product alternative that did just that was with our Think Chair.
People, Design, Other, Announcements
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute Joins the Sustainability Consortium
TEMPE, Ariz., – March 5, 2012– The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute has announced its membership with The Sustainability Consortium, an independent organization of diverse global participants working to design and implement credible, transparent and scalable science-based measurement and reporting systems accessible for all producers and users of consumer products.
The Institute promotes innovation in material chemistry and manufacturing processes to retain the value of materials for future re-use. The Institute maintains the rigorous Cradle to Cradle product certificationCM. The Institute certifies materials and products that meet these standards and works to generate demand among manufacturers, retailers, government agencies and the public for Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM products.
Events, Materials, Design, Announcements
Four Pioneering Companies Celebrated in First Certifications from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
SAN FRANCISCO - This month, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute celebrated issuing its first certifications for the products that met the rigorous Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM protocol for product manufacturing and design.
These longstanding supporters of the Cradle to Cradle® framework, Desso B.V., Herman Miller, Shaw Industries, and Steelcase Inc., were the first four of the existing 125 companies holding the mark to have products certified by the nonprofit organization. Moving forward, the Institute will continue to work with the hundreds of participating companies worldwide to issue product certifications for the Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM program.
Announcements
The First Lower-Cost, Zero Energy, Zero Carbon, and LEED Platinum® Level Production Home
LivingHomes®, a premier developer of modern, sustainably designed, prefabricated homes, announces the launch and national availability of the new LivingHome C6. The C6 is the first LivingHome that is affordably priced and comfortably sized for a small family or couple.
"It has always been our most important goal to develop an affordable LivingHome," said Steve Glenn, CEO of LivingHomes. "The C6 is not only our lowest cost LivingHome – it's half the cost of current models – but it's also the first to achieve our most important Z6 Environmental Goals, and, we believe it's the first production home to feature Cradle to Cradle® inspired materials and a LEED Platinum level environmental program. It's also the easiest and fastest LivingHome to build."
Announcements
Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute Receives $2.6M from the Dutch Postcode Lottery
SAN FRANCISCO: At its gala ceremony in Amsterdam on February 9, the Netherlands’ “Dutch National Postcode Lottery” awarded a grant of 2M Euros, or $2.6M, to San Francisco’s Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute in continued support for its work in guiding product designers and manufacturers in their efforts to make safer, healthier products.
Wendy Schmidt, Board Chairman and President of the Schmidt Family Foundation, thanked the Postcode Lottery for its faith in the mission of the Institute. “This award, which is a special grant from the Postcode Lottery, will enable our organization, entering its third year, to really lead a global transformation in our industrial processes, so that our everyday acts of consumption do not lead, inevitably, to the kinds of tragedies we are witnessing today--with plastic filling our oceans, landfills blighting our landscapes, and so many diverse life forms disappearing from the Earth.”
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is a non-profit corporation founded in 2009 by designer and architect William McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart, based upon their twenty years of work. Their 2002 book, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, was the first analysis to define industrial materials not as product and waste, but as either biological or technical “nutrients,” that would either turn safely into compost or return to industry for reuse, thus regenerating the planet.
People, Policy, Announcements
Sustainable Materials Expert Stacy Glass to Join Institute
SAN FRANCISCO– The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute today announced that sustainable materials expert Stacy Glass, co-author of the textbook Understanding Green Building Materials, will lead a campaign to show the building industry the value of Cradle to Cradle certified™ products.
Ms. Glass was a founder of CaraGreen, a sustainable building materials company built around the Cradle to Cradle philosophy as expounded in Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.
“Stacy Glass brings years of practical, on-the-ground experience which will help architects and contractors realize that when they are creating buildings, they should consider whether the materials used will be hazardous or beneficial to human health and the environment,” said Bridgett Luther, president of the Institute. “We are happy she will be on our team.”
“Many architects and designers already recognize the value of Cradle to Cradle® design,” said Ms. Glass. “The question they always ask is, ‘where can I find certified products and what are the benefits to my clients? I have helped many builders and architects answer that question, and I will emphasize those answers in my work at the Institute.”
Cradle to Cradle certification measures five criteria: material health, material reutilization, renewable energy, water stewardship, and social responsibility (available here).
Ms. Glass noted, “With increased demand for healthy and sustainable products there is tremendous motivation for companies to market their products as ‘green’. Unfortunately, this has led to unverifiable claims and a proliferation of unreliable labels making it difficult for architects and designers to find the best products.
“Cradle to Cradle certified products have become synonymous with environmental leadership by offering a holistic approach to product evaluation and manufacturer transparency, ensuring that certified products are safe and healthy for humans and the environment. Advancing this design philosophy and translating it into innovative products is critical to achieving real change in the built environment.”
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (the Institute) is a non-profit organization based in California focused on transforming the making and consumption of things into a regenerative force for the planet.
The Institute uses design, based on the laws of nature, to help commerce create products that are safe for people and the environment. This rethinking of how we design, manufacture, use and reuse materials will spur a new era of research and innovation, simultaneously driving economic, ecological and social prosperity.
For more information on the Institute, board of directors, and Cradle to Cradle certified products, go to: www.c2ccertified.org.
For interview requests or more information please contact Hannah Miller at hannah@c2ccertified.org or 215-888-8036. Glass’ speaking schedule will be posted at www.c2ccertified.org.
Announcements
DESSO Launches Patterns@Play: Giving Identity to Large Spaces
Leading European carpet manufacturer Desso adds a new collection to its CARPETECTURE® concept: Patterns@Play. Key word of this new collection is identity. The collection is about taking the anonymity of large spaces away and providing them with their own unique identity.
To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:
Announcements
Be Green Packaging Releases its 2011 Sustainability Report
Be Green Packaging today announced the release of its 2011 Sustainability Report. The document is an annual report that systematically tracks the company’s progress towards innovative social, environmental, and economic goals. Be Green’s internal sustainability goals are based on the triple bottom line philosophy, which is a holistic paradigm for measuring organizational success. This method of internal accounting places environmental stewardship and social responsibility on an equal footing with profitability in terms of overall importance to the organizations bottom line. The company, which manufactures compostable and recyclable packaging from renewable plant fibers, has maintained a strong commitment to the principles of sustainability since its inception in early 2007.
Announcements
Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute: A Means to Take Green Chemistry Issues to Reality
California Department of Toxic Substances Control’s Regulations Create Market Opportunities
Materials
Halloween Make-Up WAY SCARIER Than it Has to Be
Here's a headline no parent wants to read today: "Hazardous heavy metals contaminate most Halloween make-up, tests show"
What kind of toxins? Cadmium, which causes cancer. Mercury, which impairs neurological development. Arsenic, which was the poison of choice for Aunt Martha and Aunt Abbey in the classic Arsenic and Old Lace.
Events
Green Chemistry in the New Economy
On Friday, November 4th, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute will be convening an invite-only forum, in partnership with a cadre of Bay Area organizations interested in seeing California define the New Economy: “right livelihood” jobs that ensure a healthy, safe and abundant future, with green chemistry at the center.
Announcements
World First: Desso launches over 60% of its carpet tile range with yarn made from 100% recycled content
Early 2008, Desso made the commitment to become 100% Cradle to Cradle® by 2020. Desso's commitment is founded on ensuring that the impact Desso makes is beneficial for current and future generations. It's about 'doing the right things right'. Cradle to Cradle® design takes it inspiration from nature and sees carpet as being made up of nutrients, that should consistently remain in use, in an unending metabolism.
Announcements
Flo Monitor Arm Awarded Cradle to Cradle Certification
The Flo flat screen monitor arm was launched worldwide during 2010 and 2011. Flo is a self-powered dynamic monitor arm that allows a flat screen to be used in either an upright viewing position, at desktop level as a touch screen, or anywhere in between. Flo stands out from its competitors because it addresses three major needs of end-users and specifiers: free flowing action with smooth adjustability; a unique visual indicator weight gauge; compatibility with touch-screen technology and in addition, as one would expect from a Colebrook Bosson Saunders’ product, purity of design.
Announcements
TED talk: We can recycle plastic
Less than 10% of plastic trash is recycled -- compared to almost 90% of metals -- because of the massively complicated problem of finding and sorting the different kinds. Frustrated by this waste, Mike Biddle has developed a cheap and incredibly energy efficient plant that can, and does, recycle any kind of plastic.
Announcements
Brock International becomes the first synthetic turf company with a C2C certified product
Brock International, the leader in performance base systems for synthetic turf, today became the first company in the industry to have a Cradle to Cradle Certified(CM) product. Recognized as the most comprehensive, rigorous environmental certification process, the designation is administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, which evaluates products and materials for their impact on human health and environmental health and design for future life cycles.
Announcements
Hycrete achieves coveted award of Cradle to Cradle Certified - Gold
Hycrete, Inc., a leader in waterproofing and corrosion protection technologies for concrete, announced that its liquid admixture products have been Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold. Cradle to Cradle Certified program is a rigorous and comprehensive environmental certification system administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute that evaluates products and materials for their impact on human health and environmental health and design for future life cycles.
Materials
First on-product ingredient label introduced at Greenbuild 2011
Today, leading manufacturer of commercial architectural products Construction Specialties (C/S), and leading design firm Perkins+Will, revealed the industry's first building product transparency label detailing the complete make-up of a product, highlighting critical lifecycle information and potential human health impacts. This intensive effort, launched at Greenbuild 2011 in Toronto, Canada, is a collaborative step toward market transformation through increased disclosure on the part of building product manufacturers.
Materials
Shaw floors’ wall-to-wall (and Cradle-to-Cradle) success story
If you're like me, you don't think much about carpets.
Except maybe when you spill on one.
But like so many everyday things that we take for granted, carpets have a story to tell, and it's becoming an intriguing sustainability story. Shaw Floors, the world's largest carpet manufacturer, which is owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, recycled 121 million pounds of used carpet last year -- reclaiming it from homes or offices, breaking it down into caprolactam, a compound which is a building block of nylon, and then redeploying the nylon to make new carpet.
Announcements
Update from Be Green Packaging’s facility
September has been an exciting month for Be Green in South Carolina. Distribution operations officially began on Sept. 1st, 2011 and have been running smoothly under the combined oversight of Johnny McGill, Julian Carbajal, and Brian Reesee (see pictures of the distribution operations here). Julian will be heading down to Ridgeland later this week to oversee Shipping, Logistics, and Development of the new facility.
Design
Time to rethink health, environment and the green economy
Just recently the California legislature passed a bill to ban the chemical BPA from baby products and legislators came closer than ever before to banning the use of plastic foam containers in restaurants and grocery stores, as discussed in a recent Huffington Post article.
Announcements
C2C certified PPG glass helps library earn LEED Innovation in Design credit
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 13, 2011 – PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) announced that Georgia Gwinnett College Library, Lawrenceville, Ga., has earned an Innovation in Design credit from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program, due in part to the use of CRADLE TO CRADLE CERTIFIED(CM) PPG glass.
Announcements
Playworld Systems becomes first playground manufacturer to have C2C certified products
LEWISBURG, PA, Sep 07, 2011 -- Playworld Systems, a leading manufacturer of imaginative playground and fitness equipment, today announced all of its product lines from its 2010 catalog have been Cradle to Cradle Certified(CM) Basic. Cradle to Cradle Certified(CM) is a rigorous and comprehensive environmental certification system administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute(TM) that evaluates products and materials for their impact on human health and environmental health and design for future life cycles. The certification does not include the electronic components sealed inside certain Playworld Systems products.
Announcements
Sustainable packaging campaign launches in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With the sustainable packaging industry forecast to reach $142.42 billion by the year 2015, exciting developments are on the horizon for manufacturers and consumers alike. Now more than ever, education on post-consumption habits, waste streams and the materials used in packaged goods is imperative. Mediaplanet Publishing jumpstarted the industry's growth with a widespread educational campaign on 'Sustainable Packaging,' designed to encourage readers in Los Angeles to vote for sustainability with every transaction and consider their carbon footprint from the grocery aisle to the blue bin.
Announcements
EPA proposes to review new uses of 14 chemicals classified as glymes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to protect consumers by requiring companies to report new uses of chemicals known as glymes in consumer products. EPA’s proposed action is based in part on concerns that additional uses of these 14 chemicals in consumer products could lead to harmful reproductive and developmental health effects. Glymes are chemicals used in a wide array of applications including printing ink, paints and coatings, adhesives, household batteries and motor vehicle brake systems. This proposed action is part of Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s effort to strengthen the agency’s chemical management program and ensure the safety of chemicals.
Case studies
DSM’s Cradle to Cradle story
DSM’s involvement with the Cradle to Cradle philosophy is well-established. Before the concept was popularised by the efforts of Michael Braungart and William McDonough, the company has been leading the industry in terms of innovations for closing the loop. A leadership position in sustainability has been maintained, with the company adopting a ‘Triple P’ strategy of focusing on – and more importantly measuring itself again – the three criteria of people, planet and profit. DSM’s sustainability focus has evolved to the point where, today, it is the leading paradigm for innovation within DSM’s high performance materials portfolio.
Announcements
Replenish multi-surface cleaner honored with bronze international design excellence award
Replenish, maker of an ultra-concentrated Multi-Surface Cleaner in a Reusable Bottle System, today announces that it has been honored with a Bronze International Design Excellence Award (IDEA®) in the category of Packaging & Graphics.
Replenish's all-in-one bottle allows consumers to measure, mix with water, store and spray naturally powerful cleaners using replaceable Concentrate Pods, instead of buying pre-mixed cleaners in disposable bottles that are almost 95 percent water. By not shipping water and designing for reuse, Replenish reduces energy, plastic waste and carbon dioxide emissions by 90 percent and saves consumers 50 percent over traditional pre-mixed cleaners.
Case studies
EcoWorx: From Cradle to Cradle product to Cradle to Cradle culture
Every year more than three billion pounds of post-consumer carpet hits landfills in the US – much of it carpet that could be recycled or reused. Instead, it is classified as waste then discarded – taking up diminishing landfill space and removing otherwise valuable material from the production cycle in the process.
But what if that carpet never hit the landfill? What if, instead, it was designed to remain within a continuous cycle of use and reuse? What if it was made with safe, healthy ingredient materials assembled in such a way that, at the end of its useful life, it can be reclaimed and the ingredients harvested for use in the manufacture of new carpet – over and over?
People, Other
How Cradle to Cradle® became a foundation for Method’s design
Method recently had an exceedingly rare joint visit from Michael Braungart and Bill McDonough, the co-authors of Cradle-to-Cradle and principals of MBDC. In the green design world, this is like spending the afternoon working on a script with Pacino and DeNiro, like jamming with Jagger and Richards, like fighting evil with Batman and Robin...
Michael and Bill are in San Francisco to work on the Cradle-to-Cradle Products Innovation Institute and to explore ways for C2C thinking to be formalized in the State of California's Green Chemistry Initiatives.
Case studies
IceStone and Cradle to Cradle
IceStone, LLC is the world’s leading manufacturer of sustainable durable surfaces. Crafted in Brooklyn from 100% recycled glass and concrete, IceStone rivals the strength of natural stone with elegant colors that carry unique depth and character – making IceStone the perfect choice for everything from kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities to desktops and conference tables. Accolades include selection in the prestigious Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial, and the American Society of Interior Designers Bloom Award, among many others. IceStone is the only durable surface to achieve Cradle to Cradle™ certification at the Gold level.
Case studies, People, Design
A designer’s perspective on making the Sayl chair a C2C certified product
In producing the Sayl chair, we removed 30% of the materials for a chair in this category, of this caliber. The first consideration in building a chair is structural. When we removed so many materials, less had to do a lot more. The materials we chose had to carry a lot of weight and maintain structural integrity and function. The choices were not about what the material was, but more along the line: “This material of reinforcing fibers (glass and nylon) is what’s allowed without having a visual implications or being oversized.” It was a game of visual and size considerations to accomplish structural integrity.
Events
Cradle to Cradle Day June 9th, 2011
The evening with William McDonough and Michael Braungart was an amazing event. The room was packed full of enthusiastic supporters eager to hear the dynamic duo. I was extremely greatful to have the opportunity to meet so many who were also passionate about C2C. It was actually the first time I got to meet Michael Braungart so I was extremely excited the entire day. In fact, I was so full of energy that I had to bust out my pocket camcorder and just start recording! Check out the video below.
Other
Cradle to Cradle pays off says a new ebook!
Time and time again we hear that C2C makes business sense. Is it really that hard to understand that our "take, make, waste" system isn't going to take us into a bright future? Just take a look at this excerpt from a new ebook about how C2C pays off. You can download the entire book here.
Here is an excerpt:
This booklet is about the results of one and a half years of dedication of the Cradle to Cradle Learning Community. A total of seventeen companies took part. In the course of 10 sessions a wide range of topics was handled, from internal support to the closure of cycles. The participants unanimously concluded that: Cradle to Cradle pays off for profit, people and planet!
Announcements
Replenish receives Cradle to Cradle Gold certification
MONTEREY, June 8, 2011 – SUSTAINABLE BRANDS – Replenish, maker of an ultra-concentrated Multi-Surface Cleaner in a Reusable Bottle System, announced today at Sustainable Brands that it was Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Gold for its multi-surface cleaner and Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Silver for its reusable concentrate mixing and delivery system. Cradle to Cradle® Certification is an independent environmental certification process for materials and products that assesses the total impact of a product on human health and the environment.
People
Moving forward
It’s been a little over a year since we publicly launched the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, and now with this new website, we’re taking the first of several steps onto a path which will allow a product manufacturer to have a product certified. Over the next few weeks, we’ll begin re-certifying products and getting ready to train consultants on the new 3.0 protocol.
Materials
Post-consumer recycled plastic is the answer
Plastic has been all over the news over the past years, from David de Rothschild building a catamaran partially made from reclaimed post-consumer plastic bottles called the Plastiki in 2010 to the most recent, Cola Wars escalated to Bottle Wars as Coke launched their "Plant Bottle," a plastic bottle made 30% from renewable materials, only to be one-upped by Pepsi's 100% renewable bottle (to debut in 2012). In time for Earth Day, a major bio-plastic manufacturer announced a new recycling symbol they had created to differentiate bio-plastic from "regular" plastic.
Events, Announcements
An evening with Bill McDonough & Dr. Michael Braungart
Join us for a gala evening of cocktails, dinner and celebration. For the first time in six years, "Cradle to Cradle" co-authors William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart will be together in California. They invite you to join them to celebrate the accomplishments of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and hear their thoughts on how to unlock the next Industrial Revolution.
This intimate gathering presents a rare opportunity to meet two of the environmental movement's leading figures, hear their thoughts on the future of the world and the environmental movement, and network with other leading eco-illuminati.
Case studies, Materials, Design
Incorporating Cradle-to-Cradle Design into Herman Miller Products
In the late 1990s, office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller, Inc., entered into a collaboration with architect William McDonough to create a system for designing cradle-to-cradle products. This collaboration led to the creation of a tool—the Design for Environment (DfE) product assessment tool—that evaluates progress towards cradle-to-cradle products. The first product Herman Miller designed using the DfE product assessment tool was the Mirra chair. Over the course of the chair’s development, the DfE process generated a number of design changes, including selecting a completely different material for the chair’s spine, increasing recycled content in chair components, eliminating all PVC (polyvinyl chloride) components, and designing the chair for rapid disassembly using common tools.
Events, Other
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute at the Clinton Global Initiative
This year’s Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting (CGI) has been all about commitments that will make a positive difference around the world. Yesterday, during the Market-Based Solutions for Protecting the Environment session at CGI, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (formerly the Green Products Innovation Institute) joined industry and NGOs on stage to contribute its own global commitment to train at least 100 assessors and certify 1,000 products by 2015.
Case studies, Design
At Replenish, opting for new designs over improving old ones
Launched in late 2010, Replenish is a company guided by Cradle to Cradle principles, has been actively working with MBDC for two years and is reinventing cleaning product packaging for the good of the planet.
James Ewell, director of consulting at MBDC, sat down with Jason Foster, founder of Replenish, to discuss how he went about innovating for a product category that has been slow to adopt more sustainable design practices.