In this episode of Live. Well. Green., we explore the concept of Cradle to Cradle, which is a great solution for preserving the finite planet we live on. The two remarkable sustainability thinkers who popularized this idea are Michael Braungart and William McDonough, through their book of the same title, which was published in 2002. You will learn how we can apply their principles to various industries, developments, and to the economy as a whole; how it relates to lifecycle assessment; and to the bigger picture circular economy concepts of upsizing. Considering that nature produces no waste, it should be possible for us to copy that model by developing products and processes that can be reintegrated back into the system, causing no or limited harm to the environment. However, this requires a mindset shift concerning the importance of the economy versus of the planet. What we should always keep in mind is that the earth has finite resources and we know that we are already exploiting it to its capacity. Stay tuned to learn how it can be implemented!
Key Points From This Episode:
• Popular understandings about the importance of the environment versus the economy.
• Why the environment is the priority framework of which the economy forms part.
• Learn about the American architect who was an early adopter of sustainability in design.
• Michael Braungart and William McDonough’s Waste = Food documentary.
• A series of subsequent collaborative projects, including the book Cradle to Cradle.
• Closing the loop of the cradle-to-grave model of the lifecycle of products and processes.
• The idea behind Cradle to Cradle – the need for us to operate with a model of zero waste.
• Learn how the practice of biomimicry can preserve the environment for the next generation.
• An overview of the foundations of Cradle to Cradle, including fair labor practices.
• A quote from the book about rethinking our systems and processes.
• Examples of products that have been designed in alignment with Cradle to Cradle values.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
