This article chronicled the rise of eco efficiency. At the core of the book is a paradigm shift from ecoefficient design that focuses. The central strategy in the cradle to cradle development method and seeks to create industrial systems that emulate healthy natural systems. The aim of this paper is to explain why the eco effective cradle to cradle vision in practice results in a mere eco efficient approach by discussing several conflicts between theory and practice. Most change begins with a specific product, system, or problem. In the book changing course, these companies introduced a strategy to achieve this sustainable development. The terms eco efficiency and eco effectiveness are often lumped together. We need to revamp the system and we need to do it from all angles. Regardless of whether you agree with the authors views, you will find excellent arguments, good research, and clear explanations from philosophical, historical, scientific, and business perspectives. Many organizations have found themselves well advanced in their sustainability strategies and reaching the limits of progress made through eco efficiency measures and regulatory compliance. The cradletocradle c2c design philosophy which has been described as a. Cradle to grave landfill, one size fits all, brute force to impose design, a culture of monoculture, crude products. Discusses the industrial revolution and its impact on design.
Cradle to cradle by william mcdonough silent spring by rachel carson the. Its not possible to sweep away longestablished methods of working, designing, decisionmaking. The aim of this paper is to explain why the ecoeffective cradle to cradle vision in practice. Remaking the way we make things by michael braungart and william. In the book cradle to cradle, remaking the way we make things. Absolute versus relative environmental sustainability. In 2002 they published their book cradle to cradle. Currently our attempts at eco efficiency have only resulted in a less bad approach that is not good enough for the long term. The current model of eco design is eco efficiency, or doing more with less, mcdonough contends. Cradle to cradle is a design concept inspired by nature, in which products are created according to the principles of an ideal circular economy.
The book argues that a radical change must be made to the western worlds industrial and manufacturing systems, which are devastating to the natural world in their present state. Use of the term metabolism in this case is indicative of a similarity between cradle to cradle material flow systems and. Pdf cradle to cradle is a development paradigm with a focus on eco effectiveness. The concept was developed in response to some of the perceived limitations of eco efficiency which critics claim only slow down. This is illustrated with a case study resulting in a development method for cradle to cradle compliant packaging. What is the difference between eco efficiency and eco effectiveness with the examples used in the book cradle to cradle. Strategies that have been linked to ecoefficiency include factor 4 and factor 10, which call for specific reductions in resource use, natural capitalism, which incorporates ecoefficiency as part of a broader strategy, and the cradle to cradle movement, which claims to go beyond ecoefficiency in abolishing the very idea of waste. Peter drucker has pointed out that it is a managers job to do things right. Cradle to cradle is a essentially book of questions, and a calling for people to not only rethink the way we make things, but to rethink the way we perceive ourselves as pitted against the natural world, rather than working with the natural world. Antimony, a carcinogen, is not necessary for polyester production, yet is used, and becomes part of plastic bottles and clothing. Cradle to cradle 2009 exposes the fundamental flaws of manufacturing and the damage it inflicts upon our environment, even as we attempt to be eco friendly. Notes from cradle to cradle putting eco effectiveness into practice chapter 6 five steps to eco effectiveness how did ford begin to remake itself rouge plant. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading cradle to cradle. This chapter opens with a comparison of three books.
Cradle to cradle is a development paradigm with a focus on eco effectiveness. Efficiency signifies less waste and effectiveness sign. The launch of the c2c certification by the cradle to cradle products innovation. Eco efficiency focuses on the assumption of oneway linear flows of materials that seeks only to minimise volume or toxicity. The central principle of eco effectiveness is that waste equals food. Braungart and mcdonough state that the goal of an ecoefficient system is zero. Primarily eco efficiency quantifies, defines problems to be reduced e. The c2c approach instead emphasizes ecoeffectiveness.
Remaking the way we make things kindle edition by mcdonough, william, braungart, michael. The approach introduced the concept of ecoeffectiveness in order to. As with this book cradle to cradle, the book may be manufactured from an. Since then, many corporations have embraced eco efficiency as their banner and its application in.
In the book, cradle to cradle, the authors mention that when an industry. Conventional eco efficient demand side approaches often simply seek to reduce or minimize damage and shrink your negative footprint. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Transforming the school and workplace through deep respect and courage. Reading discussion cradle to cradle 5 points chapters two and three what are the ideological differences between the sierra club and wilderness society and environmental defense, natural resources defence council, and world wildlife fund. The concept, developed by william mcdonough and dr. These blinks also introduce you to ways in which you can make a positive impact on the planet, and guide you through the process of rethinking your business in order to become eco efficient. A carpet manufacturer uses the triple bottom line as a strategic design tool to move from eco efficiency to true sustainability. The book doesnt focus so much on how to design new objects in of themselves although it certainly touches on this, but rather, how to think about objects as parts of larger overall systems of industry and ecology.
Cradle to cradle is an important book which condemns current practices while stimulating ones imagination and hope for the future. It will it will trigger many questions about current practice, and as such, may work refreshingly. Do you think it is possible to create systems such as the cherry tree mentioned in the book. Michael braungart in the 1990s, eliminates the concept of waste and instead perceives it as food for another product. Cradle to cradle chapter 3 eco effectiveness green.
But as this provocative, visionary book argues, this approach perpetuates a oneway, cradle to grave manufacturing model that dates to the industrial revolution and casts off as much as 90 percent of the materials it uses as waste, much of it toxic. It is about eco effectiveness and goes beyond conventional sustainability tools and approaches. In contrast to eco efficiency that begins against an assumption of linear, cradle tograve material flows, eco effectiveness encompasses a set of strategies for generating healthy, cradle to cradle material flow metabolisms. The upshot of the book is that humanitys whole philosophy of designing technology is destructive to the planet. Eco efficiency, a term coined by the world business council for sustainable development in 1992, refers to the ratio of the value of the product or service produced the output divided by the total environmental cost to produce it the input. But that model only means using fewer trees, generating less pollution, consuming less fossilfueled electricity, and recycling or downcycling products into lesserquality products than their originals in other words, doing better. Remaking the way we make things william mcdonough, author, michael braungart, joint author. Looking for novel approaches and solutions, many managers are turning to bioinspiration and related fields such as biomimicry, natureinspired innovation, circular economy, and cradle to cradle. It analyses one case of c2c production, namely the satino black toilet paper produced by the dutch company van houtum. Cradle to cradle, by william mcdonough and michael braungart. Jaclyn gault, urban studies department cradle to cradle. Sustainable development and the cradle to cradle approach. As these book summary show, too many products are made from materials that are.
The introduction this book is not a tree is also optional reading. When cradle to cradle was published in 2002, it generated great hopes that it could lead to a more sustainable future. This chapter discusses differences between eco efficiency and eco effectiveness and, siding with the latter, present the cradle to cradle c2c framework as a highly promising model for sustainable production. Ecoefficiency to eco effectiveness through cradle to cradle design. What is the difference between ecoefficiency and eco.
The first is a typical bookstore book, which is printed on beautiful quality paper with nice bright ink, including a beautifully colored jacket and sturdy cardboard cover. Dr michael braungart, coauthor of the internationally renowned book cradle to cradle and founder of epea international umweltforschung gmbh, provides a compelling case for the reengineering of the production capacity and processes in business and industries towards greater eco efficiency and effectiveness. It introduces the concept of cradle to cradle where at the end of their useful life, products are not thrown away but become input for new products. Remaking the way we make things, by william mcdonough and michael braungart, offers an alternative to the linear cradle tograve industrial model of extract, manufacture, use, and dispose of. This follows the cradle to grave trajectory of dematerialisation which focusses heavily on downcycling and limits the recuperation of the nutrients of materials which gives most designs only a finite period of utility.
Real estate, construction and economic development book. This study guide consists of approximately 27 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of cradle to cradle. Industry is supported in their cradle to cradle efforts by an elaborate five level certification framework. In the book cradle to cradle, braungart and mcdonough outline the key. This is a book by two researchers who set out to find ways to build and manufacture things friendly to the. Recently, i decided to read the wellestablished bible on the subject of sustainable design. Such ecoefficiency strategies are however not feasible for achieving longterm. Cradle to cradle design also referred to as 2cc2, c2c, cradle 2 cradle, or regenerative design is a biomimetic approach to the design of products and systems that models human industry on natures processes, where materials are viewed as nutrients circulating in healthy, safe metabolisms. Cradle to cradle by william mcdonough and michael braungart. From cradle to cradle the cranbrook court theater company. Cradle to cradle chapter 3 eco effectiveness posted by greencollaramerica under cradle to cradle, uncategorized. The cradle to cradle framework is fundamentally about constantly improving and moving from simply being less bad to becoming more good.