Cradle to Cradle (C2C) is an innovative concept for a sustainable circular economy developed by chemist Michael Braungart and architect William McDonough. The name means "from cradle to cradle" and expresses the idea that all materials used in a product can be recycled either in biological or technical cycles without generating waste or pollutants. The goal is to create products that are not only ecologically sound, but also economically viable and socially just.

Cradle to Cradle differs from other approaches to Sustainabilitythat focus on life cycle assessment, eco-efficiency, or recycling. These approaches attempt to reduce the negative impact of human activity on the environment by consuming or reusing fewer resources. Cradle to Cradle, on the other hand, assumes a positive impact by viewing products as nutrients for new cycles.

Cradle to Cradle is not just a design concept, but also a school of thought that offers a new perspective on the relationship between humans and nature. It is a vision for a world in which we can not only protect the environment but also improve our quality of life.

Cradle to Cradle (C2C) goes beyond simply recycling a product. It aims to create a virtuous cycle that generates more value: upcycling. This means that making things "less bad" isn't enough. You have to go an extra step to achieve the ultimate goal: making a positive contribution to nature, people, and the economy. In short, eco-effectiveness instead of ecological balance.

C2C is based on three principles: waste is food, renewable energy, and diversity. These principles aim to design products so that they can either return to nature as biological nutrients or be reused as technical nutrients in industrial cycles. Furthermore, products should be powered or manufactured using renewable energy and respect and promote biological and cultural diversity.

The Cradle to Cradle certificate (Cradle to Cradle Certified) is an international certification for raw materials and products that can be fully reused to maintain or even increase their value. This can be in the form of reusing parts for new products or in the form of biodegradability that feeds nature. The composition of the materials is therefore extremely important, as is their origin.

The certificate is based on the principle of circular economy, which aims to avoid waste and use resources efficiently. It promotes design that protects the environment and improves quality of life. It also encourages innovation and creativity to find sustainable solutions.

There are five certification levels that products can achieve: Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. To receive certification, a product is evaluated based on five quality categories:

• All components of a material are subjected to toxicological and ecotoxicological testing in order to replace harmful substances with harmless ones.
• Product parts must be recyclable within the biological or technological cycle - the more reusable parts the product contains, the higher the certification.
• 100% of the energy for production must come from renewable energy sources.
• Water is a valuable resource for all living things and must be treated accordingly - the higher the certification level, the more drinkable the water must be after it has gone through the production process.
• Throughout the business process, all people and ecosystems are treated with respect and continuous progress is made to create positive impacts for people and the planet.