"We are working on the design of communities and begin with what we call the Essay of Clues. We look at things like the sun, the wind, the water, the biological history and the culture of the site. Then we imagine that we are birds that evolved for that place and we look down and wonder what we wish to see. And then we get underground and look up and imagine we are a bacterium or a bug or a worm and we imagine what we'd like to see. Then we evolve the design." - William McDonough

And that is how Shaw starts its brochure for its Cradle-to-cradle carpet. We first mentioned Shaw's EcoWorx carpet almost four years ago when they dumped PVC. They have taken it to the next level now.

Harvey Salzman explains that every component of the EcoWorx carpet can be reused or composted at the end of its useful life. They mean it, even putting their phone number on the back of each tile so that one can call them to come and pick it up. It has Cradle to Cradle Silver Certification from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry and of course, is good for LEED points.

They worked with William McDonough on the design of the tiles as well, which is why they have all the cute architectural names. ::Shaw Contract Group

More on Cradle to Cradle in TreeHugger:
Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough & Michael Braungart
Book: Cradle to Cradle
McDonough Braungart Product Certification

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