Cradle to Cradle and the Circular Economy

Abstract

The Cradle to Cradle (C2C) concept takes natural systems as a source of inspiration, striving toward a positive vision where human society and industry regard waste as “food” for new cycles of use, and are powered entirely by renewable energy. Cradle to Cradle is not about efficiency but about effectiveness—waste need not be minimized if it is food for other cycles, providing positive regenerative impacts. However, this is difficult to achieve in practice. The Circular Economy concept elaborates on the Cradle to Cradle model, prioritizing longer product lifetime and recovering whole products over material recovery through recycling.
The Circular Economy also combines ecological thinking with economic thinking, making a business argument for sustainability.
Both concepts have been very influential in shaping the way we think about design for sustainability.