From Cradle to Grave, to Cradle to Cradle.

Two of the most common and basic terms used in the Eco-Design discipline are “Cradle to Grave” and “Cradle to Cradle”. They relate to the life cycle of a product from the raw materials (Cradle) to disposal (Grave). 

Cradle-to-Grave 

A term used in life-cycle analysis to describe the entire life of a material or product up to the point of disposal. 

Our current recycling methods are ineffective and only serve to maintain the “cradle-to-grave” routine that we have been using for hundreds of years. 

Cradle-to-Cradle 

A method used to minimise the environmental impact of products by employing sustainable production, operation, and disposal practices and aims to incorporate social responsibility into product development. 

All waste materials are productively re-incorporated into new production and use phases, i.e. “waste equals food.” [Michael Braungart, William McDonough, EPEA]

The book 'cradle to cradle,' by Architect William McDonough and Chemist Michael Braungart presents the reader with an explanation for why humans need a completely new agenda for how we interact with the world around us. They ‘…argue that the conflict between industry and the environment is not an indictment of commerce but an outgrowth of purely opportunistic design.’

The subject of the book revolves around the idea that in nature, waste equals food. All products are seen as nutrients within biological (natural) or industrial (technical) metabolisms. The authors envision a world where, when a material item gets worn out, you simply throw it on the ground to decompose. The aim of the book is to show why the usual responses we have developed in response to eco-design are ineffective, and what to do instead.

Not only does the book cover a rage of nature-inspired design principles that aid the industry in both a prosperous and sustainable manner, but the book itself is a physical symbol of the Cradle to Cradle theory. It is printed on a synthetic 'paper,' made from plastic resins and inorganic fillers, designed to look and feel like top quality paper while also being waterproof and durable. Not only is the book recyclable by conventional means, it can also be called a ‘technical nutrient’, which is an infinitely recyclable product. This 'treeless' book presents a day when synthetic books, like many other products, can be used, recycled, and used again without losing any material quality—in cradle to cradle cycles.

To Summarise:
Cradle to Cradle design refers to a production process where products are developed for closed-loop systems in which every output ingredient is safe and beneficial – either to biodegrade naturally and restore the soil (called a biological nutrient), or to be fully recycled into high-quality materials for subsequent product generations (called a technical nutrient)

Sources: Alternative Energy; Cradle to Cradle; Cradle to Cradle Design & Production; DesignBoom; Ecomii; Green Prophet; Yardavore; Youtube