Why have a dossier about Cradle to Cradle?

Anyone who is familiar with Gevleugelde Woorden must have noticed that I have something to do with the environment, sustainability, socially responsible businesses, green, etc., or whatever you want to call it. It is not a trend of the last few months or years since even as a teenager I sent unfriendly packaging back to the manufacturer because I thought that they should ‘clean up their own mess’.

Of course, I do not write those kinds of letters anymore, but I have always remained aware of the environment. However, my experience is that ‘friendly consumption’ is not always easy to do and that ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘organic’ or ‘responsible’ claims are not always true. Fraudulent companies have now found an ideal marketing tool in the environment and there we go again with our good intentions.

The choice between one less polluting product and another is not always easy to make, except when you are sure that a product is really good. That is when Cradle to Cradle becomes an issue.

(Photo: Mariëlle Verhoef.)

In 2008 I got to know Michael Braungart, one of the two men behind the Cradle to Cradle concept. I believe that this is the highest possible form of environmentally friendliness. It is not about ‘polluting less’, but about contributing in a positive way. It is a delightfully positive look at product development, and sometimes even at life. For me this is a reason for having a look at the implementation of the Cradle to Cradle (C2C or CtC) concept in the Netherlands. How far have we come, what can you get and who is doing C2C?

My most important goal with this dossier is to provide clarity. A lot of information about C2C is missing, incorrect information is being spread and told, and I would not be called Diana if I did not feel challenged to hunt down the real story. Let us really find out what people in the Netherlands are doing that is C2C. Responses, suggestions or questions are more than welcome.

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For the articles in this category I give permission to use the text for use on other websites and/or other media under certain conditions. Condition 1 is that my name as author, Diana den Held, as well as the source, the URL to Gevleugelde Woorden to the text in question, is stated. Condition 2 is that the text cannot be used for commercial purposes. The third and final condition is that the text cannot be altered or transformed. You can place your own title and intro above it, but the text must be placed as I have written it. Moreover, commercial parties should feel free to contact me to discuss the possibilities.

Cradle to Cradle® and C2C® are registered trademarks held by EPEA Internationale Umweltforschung GmbH and McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, LLC.