Embodying a variety of sustainability options -- "using environmentally safe and healthy materials; design for material reutilization, such as recycling or composting; the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency" and several more -- William McDonough and Michael Braungart offer Cradle to Cradle certification as a way to label some of the greenest products available today. Here are some of our picks for those who made the C2C cut.
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1) The first six Cradle to Cradle certifications were announced back in late 2005, with the Think Chair by Steelcase (pictured) on the list as an early adopter, along with the Zody Chair by Haworth, Hycrete Technologies' Hycrete concrete additive, Pendleton Woolen Mills, Classic Wool Flannel seating fabric, and Victor Innovatex's Eco Intelligent Polyester seating, and panel fabric.
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2) gDiapers earned the first -- and, so far, only -- certification for baby care products with their flushable/compostable diaper lining. gDiapers have no elemental chlorine, perfumes, smell or garbage, and the damp ones can even make good compost -- they recommend that the brown ones always get flushed down.
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3) Most recently, Surface iQ's commercial wallcoverings have earned Cradle to Cradle certification. The only printed commercial grade wallcovering to have earned this certification, Surface iQ's products have an impressive green résumé; non-PVC composition free of elemental chlorine, formaldehyde and halogenated fire-retardants top the list. The remaining two picks are after the jump...
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4) The US Postal Service has even gotten into the Cradle to Cradle act. After more than 60 packaging items were examined, breaking those items down to 250 component materials and then further analyzing 1,400 individual ingredients, MBDC announced that all Express Mail and Priority Mail packages and envelopes supplied by the service now meet Cradle to Cradle Silver certification.
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5) We got a little ahead of ourselves in proclaiming this the first Cradle to Cradle computer keyboard; as it turns out, just the keyboard mechanism -- the thing holding the keyboard up in the picture -- has earned the certification. Still, it's a nice accomplishment and made us long for the days where we can type away on a keyboard until it wears out, and then just toss it on the compost heap.
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Thanks for the info
So there are varying degrees of Cradle to Cradle?
After reading the press release from the USPS, It doesn't really go into detail about HOW their packaging meets the requirements of Cradle to Cradle. It seems like it is confused with being recyclable or "downcyclable" in MBDC's own terms.
As I understood the concept of Cradle to Cradle, it meant that waste=food and continually nourishes the cycle of life, whether thats the life of production or life on this planet.
I am always glad to hear about reducing waste and CO2 emissions, but to certify a recyclable cardboard box as "Cradle to Cradle" sounds like a PR stunt for a struggling organization.
According to something I saw on the science channel, those new USPS boxes and envelopes are so green you can eat them (if you really need the fiber). They are supposed to be compostable, made with non-toxic all-natural inks and adhesives, and at least 30% post-consumer fibers.