SThe term Cradle to Cradle, often referred to as C2C, was first suggested in the 1970’s by Walter R. Stahel, a swiss architect envisioning the idea of a circular economy that allowed all resources, even manpower, to be recycled in a way that emulated nature, where everything had an optimal re-usage in a circular flow cycle. These ideas and the term Cradle to Cradle would then be further researched, developed, and registered by german chemist Michael Braungart and US architect William McDonough who, through their 2002 book “Cradle to Cradle: Remaking The Way We Make Things” , would detail how to achieve their Cradle to Cradle Design model. Their book called for a radical change in industry standards that embraced the old fashioned “Cradle to Grave” (Birth to Waste) production cycle into transitioning to their Cradle to Cradle (Birth to Birth) biomimetic and circular approach. In this model, all material inputs and outputs would be transformed or reused into new biological or technical resources, making it essentially important to choose carefully all components of a product in such a way that the product is 100% waste-free. Today, Cradle to Cradle is both recognized and preferred by many leading brands, organizations, and sustainability standards.
We have mapped Cradle to Cradle certification to:
- Reducing Carbon Emissions
- Reducing Waste
- Protecting Ecosystems/Low Impact
- Safe and Fair Labor
- Supporting Community
Cradle to Cradle certifies
- Products (Product eligibility)
- Suppliers & Manufacturers (Material Health Certificate)
Cost to get certified:
The cost of the Product Certification Application is $3,600 USD. Costs regarding third party Certified Assessment Bodies vary across countries and organizations assisting. Other fees such as the Annual Community Fee or the Private Label Fee can be found in their Certified Fees Schedule.
Do they perform audits on companies:
Yes, through an Accredited Assessment Body that acts as a third party auditor.
Standards listed on their website
Yes, the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard can be found and downloaded here. The Material Health Certificate Standard is also available through this link.
