Do you want a better understanding of Cradle to Cradle and the reasons why you should seriously consider it as your first choice? According to the founder of the Cradle to Cradle Design® movement, William McDonough, when you use Cradle to Cradle Certified® building materials in your environmentally safe projects, you’re both at the frontline of trying to do the best there is and at the same time you’re humble.
The significance of Cradle to Cradle in the building industry increases. So, we were excited to research the topic further by interviewing the founder himself and discover some interesting learnings – especially William’s intriguing thoughts about the importance of the overall Cradle to Cradle score.
“With Cradle to Cradle Certified® you know that somebody cared enough to go to the highest quality standard,” William explains. “I think architects, designers and specifiers should use Cradle to Cradle Certified® materials in their projects, because then they can say – at the very least – that these materials and products are to the best of our ability meeting the Cradle to Cradle Certified® standard, that’s about constant improvement, constant innovation and adapting to the future. When you use Cradle to Cradle Certified® building materials, you’re both at the frontline of trying to do the best there is and at the same time you’re humble,” he says.
With Cradle to Cradle Certified® you know that somebody cared enough to go to the highest quality standard.
“When we originally designed the Cradle to Cradle Certified® standard, we decided that it wasn’t just about healthy materials. It was also the whole concept of the circular economy and the idea of a product as a service, which comes from Cradle to Cradle and is now being used by anyone in circular economy, because it’s such an important idea. Cradle to Cradle Certified® products can be used again and again across generations. That’s smart thinking and good economics. So, if you want to change colour in the interior – and the materials are Cradle to Cradle Certified® – it’s okay. Do you destroy the planet for doing that? No, because the materials are designed for reuse. We’re not consuming Cradle to Cradle Certified® materials. We’re using them, and after use they’re reused,” he continues.
Don’t get fixated on the overall score
“Furthermore, having the five criteria in Cradle to Cradle gives you a choice,” William McDonough says. “You can look at the criteria that excites you the most or all of them. But remember that the overall certification level is the lowest score of the five criteria. You can have Platinum in some criteria and Bronze in others. I don’t think people should be to strangely fixated on what the level is when comparing things. I think anybody who gets into the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Products Program and actually gets certified are on the right track and should be celebrated. If the product is at overall Bronze level, the notion is that it’s not going to be at Bronze level forever. That’s why you should choose Bronze certified products too, because you’re helping the manufacturer to improve – and then we’re all improving together.”
William McDonough’s top 3 recommendations
“Architects, interior designers and specifiers have fundamental things that need to be addressed. We always have to look for performance, cost and aesthetics. What we’re adding to that is: Could it be ecologically intelligent? Could it be safe and healthy for humans and the environment? Could it be something that’s inspiring the world we use and the materials? What if we could turn natural sources into resources? That’s the outcome of circular economy”, the Cradle to Cradle author says with a smile.
“My top 3 recommendations for architects, interior designers and specifiers are:
Do your work. Make beautiful things that we can afford and that work very well
Go to the next level of quality where things are ecologically intelligent and safe and healthy for humans and eco systems
Use the power of nature itself to drive your inspirations. Don’t waste peoples’ food. Use solar income and celebrate diversity”
With these recommendations, we thank William for sharing his thoughts and insights on Cradle to Cradle Design®.
Cradle to Cradle resume
Cradle to Cradle Certified® is your guarantee that the materials used are manufactured with sustainability in mind and a sustainable future as the overall target. The level of the certificate is not that important, since the notion of working together to improve the way we do things are the real purpose. If we design our buildings and world in a way that stops exploiting natural sources and instead focus on using the natures’ non-harmful resources over and over again, we’re looking at a better tomorrow. That’s our aim at Ege Carpets. I hope it’s your aim too.
