Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

Is the title of my review hyperbole? I would submit that it is not. What this book represents is, in my opinion, the first clear articulation of the fundamental reason why humankind has reached an environmental crisis point where we either adapt, change, and flourish; or are swept clean (or at best decimated and reduced to barbarism) from this world as a failed species. However, this book is not about deprivation; its not about returning to 'Walden Pond' and renouncing growth, innovation, technology, and an advanced (and advancing) civilization. William McDonough and Michael Braungart's articulated vision is that through elegant, effective, integral, and enlightened design, we can fundamentally change the underlying paradigm via which the material objects of civilization are created; that through such a paradigm shift we can abolish *waste* by designing all systems whereby 'waste equals food' in all systems of civilization. To date, mankind has operated within a design paradigm whereby designers of systems, products, and materials, assumed that we could "throw something AWAY"; and were the forces of time and nature, at those places which they consider to be *AWAY* enough, would prove capable of rendering the undesirable byproducts of our creation and consumption back into a 'natural', safe, and again desirable, state. Such design assumptions may have been viable until the advent of the industrial age, but are no longer valid. Since we discovered how to burn coal, forge steel, concentrate heavy metals, and synthesize plastics, we have been inexorably moving towards this point in time and this crisis. This book drives home the point that there is no longer any viable *AWAY* towards which mankind might, in place of adequate design, throw away the ever increasing quantities of undesirable byproducts of the 'metabolism' of our civilization. Moreover, the authors point out that these 'metabolites' of civilization are such that there must be a differentiation, and separation, between a 'natural cycle of reuse' (which consists of materials and objects that can be naturally broken down into safe components through time, sunlight, oxidation, etc.) and a 'technical cycle of reuse' (which includes materials and objects which cannot, through being concentrated and/or synthesized by mankind, be safely broken down by natural processes and must therefore be technically reprocessed). It is this very mixing of component cycles that has yielded so much disease and suffering in the world; the dioxins, the mercury levels, the myriad mutagens and toxins now pervading our environment. This book is not a work of pessimism and "we are doomed" extremism; it is a book filled with an honest faith in Mankind's ability blaze a new path towards the reconciliation, through design excellence, of environmental stewardship and a high technical, and economically vibrant, civilization. However, it is not by any means, a pollyanna of unfounded optimism and the authors pull no punches regarding what's broken, the seriousness of the problems we face, and a path towards recovery. In closing, this book is tremendously important because it represents a manifesto for a movement to revolutionize design and inspire designers and empower entrepreneurs who see opportunity in the advent of this design paradigm shift. I must say, that it is one of the most encouraging books I have read in recent memory and it has galvanized me into becoming an activist and evangelist of the Cradle-to-Cradle Movement. I hope, and pray, that this book, and the movement that it has spawned, continues to take hold, gains critical mass, and acts to help pull us from the brink of the tragic disaster that we face should we continue as we have to date.

Reuse, reduce, recycle, has been societies' motto for dealing with environmental problems. However, as it is well known, it has not helped. Authors McDonough and Braungart present a new theory behind this. They tell us to reconsider the radle to cradle motif in life, where products turn to trash as soon as they are manufactured, to a cradle to cradle life. This means that when a product is created it will not end up in a landfill, or incinerator, but rather they will return to the cradle from which they were once made, only to be reused again, and again. According to McDonough and Brungart , about 90% of the materials created in the USA will become obsolete right after they are manufactured. These products, such as plastic bottles, or styrofoam, will not degrade and will only keep adding to the already overwhelmingly large toxic landscape created by consumer goods. Because the earth is not able to safely absorb the toxic wastes, the authors encourage us to create products that are not only biodegradable but also work as nutrients that benefit the earth's different systems. For example, hydrogen powered cars will be extremely beneficial relative to our current transportation system. Their emissions will go from being CO2, to H2O. The book itself puts their theories to use. It is created with a special synthetic paper that is waterproof and can be recycled indefinitely for the creation of other books, thus reducing deforestation, along with other factors associated with the recycling of paper. Also, the authors refer to two main ways of life: downcyling, which presents what would happen if the problem is not fixed, and upcycling, which would reuse every single material, therefore not allowing it to turned into another toxic waste pile. They want to revolutionize the entire design of products, so that from the very beginning each material used will be utilized in ca clean manner and be able to be reused continuously. They pose the problem that many industries do not want to go back to the drawing board because of the massive amount of expense that would cause. The book itself is a very easy read, one that is informative to all educational levels. The only negative aspect that I can think of is its weight, because it is made from the synthetic material, it is quite a heavy book for its size. All in all this book presents the idea of intelligent design, where the world should not see valuable raw materials sent to their graves through the use of ill design and manufacturing, but rather have them be intelligently created for an everlasting product thus making waste virtually nonexistent.

Chapter Summaries and Takeaways: Chapter 1: A Question of Design The first chapter introduces the cradle-to-cradle method of thinking by completely redesigning the infrastructure of how we perceive sustainability and eco-efficiency. It focuses on how the current Industrial system follows a “cradle to grave” system meaning products are created, used, and thrown away which is bad for the natural world. The author wants to shift towards a “cradle to cradle” system where the products are designed specifically to be good for the environment to be reused, recycled, or returned to nature. The chapter highlights that these problems stem from our goals when designing products - we need to think about sustainability when developing new products so we can help the environment. It discusses the role of design in sustainability and why we should produce systems that align with the natural cycle. Chapter 2: Why Being ‘Less Bad’ Is No Good This chapter argues that merely reducing harm to the environment, or being “less bad” is not a good approach to sustainable development. Like the title suggests it focuses on the idea of eco-efficiency not being good enough in this world. This chapter introduces a main idea of the book which aims to do more than simply be eco efficient. The authors want to shift from “eco-efficiency” (minimizing harm) to “eco-effectiveness” (creating systems that are inherently beneficial). They suggest that human systems should imitate nature’s renewing process. Calling for solutions that not only reduce harm but actively contribute to the environment and society. Simply being more efficient with what you have is not as beneficial as completely building up from systems shown in nature that not only don’t waste but also do not brute force industrial means. Another topic this chapter touches on is how people tend to always view efficiency as good when in reality it really isn’t. A given example would be that an efficient Nazi is not beneficial or positive but it is still efficient. In doing so it attempts to break away preconceived ideas of efficiency that we have as a society. Chapter 3: Eco-Effectiveness Eco effectiveness as described in the reading is a step beyond eco efficiency where it aims to build systems from the ground up on these sustainable ideals rather than simply try to redirect pre existing systems. Chapter three introduces the concept of designing systems that are more eco-efficient, seeking to create products/processes that are entirely waste-free and contribute positively to ecosystems. This is contributed by new terminology where the ideal way to produce products is an eco effective approach. It dives into the ideas of growth and how it is not always a positive result. The chapter emphasizes the importance of designing with the idea of a “closed loop” in mind, where all materials are either biodegradable or fully reusable. The chapter briefly describes how many of its ideas may seem so far from what we consider normal that they may appear strange. However this is a normal experience when it comes to establishing change. Chapter 4: Waste Equals Food This chapter introduces the idea that in nature, there is no such thing as waste, what we would call “waste” is simply put back into the system through nutrients. Everything in natural systems is either consumed or decomposed and reused by other organisms. The cradle to cradle ideals were originally present at the start of society but have been lost to time in favor of the cradle to grave approach. The author argues that human-made systems should operate in the same way. Products should be designed so that at the end of their life cycle, they become "food" for other processes—either biodegradable materials that safely return to nature, or reusable materials that can be processed and made into new products. This idea challenges the traditional "cradle to grave" model and encourages the creation of products that contribute positively to the environment. The term monstrous hybrids is coined in reference to products with a mix of biological and technological materials. This is said to taint the biological processes. It discusses the two flows of nutrients or the two different metabolisms in the world. These include the biological and technological metabolisms. Products should either be one or the other but not a mixture as this destroys the nutrient flow of both metabolisms. Chapter 5: Respect Diversity The chapter opens looking at primordial life. It follows the idea that in nature the fittest survive whilst the fittingest thrive. It discusses the importance of diversity in both natural and human-made systems. The authors explain that biological diversity allows ecosystems to thrive and adapt to changing conditions. Similarly, human systems, such as industrial processes and communities, benefit from diversity—whether in terms of culture, biology, or technology. Embracing diversity in design leads to more innovative and resilient solutions that can better serve different needs and environments. The chapter advocates for the creation of flexible, adaptable systems that can support a wide range of functions and needs. Rather than promoting a one size fits all approach to society we must design with the potential for mass customization to fit the growing diversity. It introduces a triangle between three extremes: equity, ecology, and economy. Introducing the importance of balance between the three and the triple top and triple bottom line approach in design. Chapter 6: Putting Eco-Effectiveness into Practice The final chapter opens with a brief history of Ford and its conclusion states that we should embrace every aspect of what a company makes and produces. A redesigned automobile industry may even bring about an entirely new idea of what an automobile is as talked about earlier with the possibilities of the eco-effective approach. The authors focus on practical steps for implementing eco-effective designs. It showcases the five steps of eco-effectiveness which are to get ‘free of’ known culprits, follow informed personal preferences, creating a ‘passive positive’ list, activate the positive list, and reinvent. It's important to realize the final step has no endpoint and the results may be entirely different from where one started. The chapter emphasizes the importance of collaboration among businesses, governments, and consumers to drive change. It encourages designers and companies to rethink traditional practices and take action toward eco-effective, regenerative systems. The five guiding principles of eco effectiveness are to signal your intention, restore, be ready to innovate further, understand and prepare for the learning curve, and exert intergenerational responsibility. It ends by claiming we should try to once again become native to the Earth and that this approach will take all of us and it will be forever but in the end that is the point of what we are trying to accomplish. Review: The following book review is from the perspective of two highschool students currently enrolled in a Green Chemistry course. Since we come from this high school level perspective our review may offer otherwise overshadowed perspectives and ideas. We would recommend this book but only after a few words of caution. The ideas and perspectives in the reading are integral to not only foreseeing a brighter future but also to understanding the fundamentals of Green Chemistry. However the reading can at times be needlessly complex and or stretched out. That is not to say the book is too long in fact it is quite short but at times the reading just feels as if it is not reaching its point. Cradle to Cradle is not a particularly complicated or hard to understand book however we feel it could cater to a younger wider range of readers if it simplified its message and made it more direct. We think this book is best when read by college and above level readers or younger readers who show a stronger interest in the sciences. However we don’t believe this book caters to anyone outside of the sciences which takes away from its point of everyone making a difference and the wider audience understanding these issues. We also feel this book does not necessarily cater to the higher level sciences as it could be seen as too simple and dull. In this way Cradle to Cradle finds itself in this uncomfortable middle ground where it does not really cater to any particular audience. This leads me to believe that the biggest problem with the book is not its message but its delivery. The main message of the book aims to redefine the way at which we view eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness. It is in this regard we think the book would do better in catering to the younger more adolescent minds. These are the minds most open to a change in understanding and are effectively the minds of the future. However we feel the book just falls short in being engaging enough to the younger audience. Overall though, we would highly recommend this book because although the delivery could be better at times the messages themselves and what the book is actually saying is essential to better the world’s science fields as well as our world. These ideas would benefit the world.

Cradle to Cradle describes the harmful environmental impact caused by the manufacture and packaging of goods. While we may calculate the cost of raw materials to make a product, we do not include the "cost"/harm to the environment. We do not choose environmentally friendly materials to make products. We do not factor in the permanent loss of those materials when the products are down cycled and end up in landfills. We ignore the wasteful and impactful packaging of products as well. Cradle to Cradle challenges us to consider all costs and impacts involved when designing, manufacturing and packaging products. The authors walk the talk by using a non-paper substance for the book's pages that outlast the pages of paper books and can be recycled into other books (not down cycled or discarded). Take this book to the beach; it's waterproof! The authors make for a powerful partnership William McDonough brings his chemistry background to the subject. Of the tens of thousands of chemicals available, which ones are environmentally friendly? Which ones can be reclaimed and used over and over with minimum down cycling? Michael Braungart is an architect. In The Answer to How is Yes author Peter Block suggests that leaders should pattern themselves after architects (not engineers or economists) who must balance artistic beauty and real world constraints (engineering and financial) in their work. The artistic element keeps the engineer and bean counter from dominating the process, causing unbridled harm. Following the advice of their book, we could begin to use products that were truly elegant - products that would evade birth to death cycles by being suitable for birth to rebirth cycles. Cradle to Cradle is an important book which condemns current practices while stimulating one's imagination and hope for the future. --Jack Bender, author of Disregarded: Transforming the School and Workplace Through Deep Respect and Courage [ASIN:0977827275]

Finally, I've found the book that speaks simply and eloquently about the problems I've felt no one is addressing -- the ROOTS of the problems we are now facing, namely, lack of intelligent design and forethought. Studying to be a scientist in college, I remember being so frustrated with some science publications -- they were virtually unreadable! -- and thinking it's a problem of the system and of the author, who does not consider why he is writing what he is writing. He should be writing to communicate information, in a simple way that could be available to a large audience. Instead, it seemed that people were writing to get published to get grants to produce more research that they continued to miscommunicate in more impossible-to-read publications. And I've felt similarly about the way our whole human-made world runs -- we've forgotten what the point is, which is to live and enjoy and have our kids continue to do the same. And it's easy to foget when one has a reductionist approach, when one specializes in something and never looks up to see what's around. This book should be taught in all schools as part of the curriculum. It's a breath of fresh air of thinking globally and holistically in a world that is largely reductionist in reasoning. It is very encouraging to see such good work come from such an interdisciplinary partnership. And I love the fact that this book is a polymer!

A new trend is beginning to emerge and its presence increasingly felt in our everyday lives. Let me offer an example: As you take a stroll through your neighborhood you are likely to see not just one container, but two lining the curbs of the street. To many, their existence resembles progress and an increased responsibility in the way we interact with our environment. In fact, to own and use a recycling bin (yes, you likely already guessed it) in some ways has progressed to an object of pride or a display of consumer responsibility. However, it’s early and you take little notice of them as they have become quite commonplace in your neighborhood. You continue your walk and pass a couple wearing matching slip-on shoes, which you recognize from an advertisement as being made of recycled rubber and various other recycled materials. In addition, they are each carrying a cotton grocery bag which they intentionally bring and reuse every time they make such a trip to the store. You head back down your street (feeling slightly guilty after the couple passed you and wondering if you shouldn’t also be using such a bag) and arrive back at your residence. You reach down and pick up the newspaper (made of recycled paper) just as your neighbor pulls into their driveway, windows down and music playing. You recognize the soothing voice of Jack Johnson and strain your ears to listen more closely: If you're going to the market to buy some juice. You've got to bring your own bags and you learn to reduce your waste...And if your brother or your sister's got some cool clothes...You could try them on before you buy some more of those...Reuse, we've got to learn to reuse… And if the first two R's don't work out..and if you've got to make some trash...Don't throw it out...Recycle, we've got to learn to recycle… I think I’ve made my point. The message is everywhere. And as Johnson’s song laid out for us above, the message is clear: Reduce, reuse, recycle. However, as widespread and as this message is becoming one must stop and ask: is it effective? William McDonough and Michael Braungart argue in Cradle to Cradle: Remaking The Way We Make Things that such a design goal is ineffective. Efficient? Yes. Effective? Not quite. They propose that such efforts, which they categorize as “eco-efficient” design, are only a “less bad” version of a poor design methodology that emerged from the industrial revolution. These efforts do not change the way products are designed, rather they seek to mitigate the effects of poor design. As result, they seek a negative goal of zero impact on the environment. The problems associated with this approach are numerous. First, it creates a dichotomy between the environment and industry, with gains to one necessitating a loss to the other (also known as zero sum, see the trend). This leads to conflict and opposing agendas between the two and does very little to reveal how the two may actually be of benefit to one another. Second, as mentioned, it only makes a bad thing, less bad. To reduce something bad or harmful does not negate its impact, but only delays it. As such, these efforts are by definition unsustainable. Third, at best it has a goal of seeking not to degrade the environment and certainly does not consider the possibility that good design may actually improve the environment. So what is the main problem with the design form that emerged from the industrial revolution? Put simply, it was designed to become waste. Or put another way, it was designed with waste in mind. The authors label such design, cradle-to-grave design, as it is purposed from inception to become waste. They suggest that to solve this design dilemma we must rethink our idea of waste, or rather not think of it as a possibility at all. If design is reborn without waste in mind then we will have new products and new systems that bring life and wasteful abundance to its surroundings. If we sow design with new life in mind, our industries and our environment will reap the benefits of this change in design methodology. The author’s point out that nature’s idea of waste or excess actually enriches its surroundings. What if we design products from inception that sought to do the same? What if we learned from nature’s example and designed our systems cradle-to-cradle?

The most compelling aspect of this book is the fact that it is a Durabook, printed on recyclable plastic "paper" that saves trees and results in waterproof pages so that you can quite literally take this book anywhere you go. It is too bad McDonough and Braungart didn't give as much attention to their narrative, which reads as a blatant piece of self-promotion. The authors have established a good reputation for themselves in recent years, successfully promoting their green ideas on Ford Motor Company, Nike and other high profile companies. But, this book woefully comes up short in terms of ideas, as it reads like a screed on green consciousness, rather than a helpful guide to gaining greater eco-awareness, especially in terms of the built environment. I was looking for at least one demonstration of their ideas in terms of resource material, but there is none. We are simply led to believe that McDonough and Braungart have carried out successful projects with green consciousness in mind. Contrast this with books like Ecological Design by Sim Van Der Ryn and The Green Skyscraper by Ken Yeang, and you will see what I mean. Van Der Ryn and Yeang provide vital information in terms of how they have successfully built sustainable buildings. Yeang maybe a little too heavily as he offers much in terms of raw data on his innovative high-rise buildings that readers might find tedious. But, if you are like me, these are the books you are looking for. Cradle to Cradle is little more than a clever advertisement for McDonough and Braungart.

Absolutely love this book! It's a paradigm-shifter. I first read it years ago when it was first released, and it blew my mind. It still does. Our current system is highly unsustainable, and Cradle to Cradle proposes a transformative shift in our production patterns through the introduction of a circular system. The core idea is to change how we produce things since significantly curbing our consumption, although necessary, seems unlikely. While you won't find detailed step-by-step processes, the book offers a fresh perspective and a new way of thinking. It's a fantastic introduction to the topic of sustainability. If you're interested in sustainability, this book is a must-read.

On se sent un peu moins bête après la lecture de ce livre qui est traduit en français mais surtout il est porteur d'espoir. Des solutions existent pour vivre en harmonie avec notre environnement. Arrêtons de toute urgence l'économie linéaire qui ne fait que créer des tonnes de déchets !

It's a really nice book and the time of delivery was fast. I'm happy with my purchase :)

O material do livro é incrível, bem como o prefácio descreve. Além disso, apresenta e explica detalhadamente o conceito de Cradle to Cradle e sugere o que cada um pode fazer para contribuir para a preservação do meio ambiente. Recomendo fortemente!!!

Still a great, relevant read almost two decades later. Makes you rethink our entire economy and our responsibility as patrons to this earth.

El libro es un regalo que le he hecho a mi novio para que repase el inglés y aprenda sobre un tema muy interesante como la reutilización de las cosas que es lo que plantea el libro. Yo no lo he leído y él todavía no lo ha empezado pero tiene muy buena pinta. En cuanto a la edición, es una edición de libro sencilla, cómoda y parece que realizada con papel reciclado, consecuente con lo que predica. El envío super genial, lo pedí un sábado y me llegó el lunes: increíble. El embalaje correcto. Un 10.