Status
Available
Call number
Call number
722 McD
Collection
Publication
North Point Press (2002), Edition: 1st, 193 pages
Description
"Reduce, reuse, recycle," urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. As William McDonough and Michael Braungart argue in their provocative, visionary book, however, this approach perpetuates a one-way, "cradle to grave" manufacturing model that dates to the Industrial Revolution and casts off as much as 90 percent of the materials it uses as waste, much of it toxic. Why not challenge the notion that human industry must inevitably damage the natural world? they ask. In fact, why not take nature itself as our model? A tree produces thousands of blossoms in order to create another tree, yet we do not consider its abundance wasteful but safe, beautiful, and highly effective; hence, "waste equals food" is the first principle the book sets forth. Products might be designed so that, after their useful life, they provide nourishment for something new-either as "biological nutrients" that safely re-enter the environment or as "technical nutrients" that circulate within closed-loop industrial cycles without being "downcycled" into low-grade uses (as most "recyclables" now are). Elaborating their principles from experience redesigning everything from carpeting to corporate campuses, the authors make an exciting and viable case for change.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member njvroom
The most notable feature of Cradle to Cradle is the book itself. It is not paper, cardboard or newsprint, but rather made entirely of plastic. This provides the reader with a completely waterproof and very durable book which is then fully recyclable when finished. The physical book is an example of
Unfortunately, the book focuses too much on the evils of Cradle to Grave products instead of encouraging the reader with ideas for renewable and reusable products. The authors use some examples of “eco-efficient” design, but they are in the minority and scattered throughout the book. Instead of learning all the benefits of new systems, the book takes too much time preaching against the Industrial Revolution and its byproducts. A good book, but comes across as somewhat condemning.
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what the book teaches: we need to reevaluate and revolutionize current products. Throughout the book, the authors want products that do not just wind up in a landfill after being used, rotting away (a “Cradle to Grave” scenario). The natural resources are used for one product, and then are wasted when thrown away. Instead, the authors envision a system where a product is used by a consumer, then taken back by the manufacturer to be completely reworked as another product. This is called “upcycling” or a “Cradle to Cradle” scenario. Using examples from nature, the authors encourage manufacturers to not simply use organic or “less bad” products and call it “eco-friendly.” Rather, they want the entire manufacturing process (starting with the warehouse/building itself) to be rethought and completely redesigned, in order to make it “eco-efficient.”Unfortunately, the book focuses too much on the evils of Cradle to Grave products instead of encouraging the reader with ideas for renewable and reusable products. The authors use some examples of “eco-efficient” design, but they are in the minority and scattered throughout the book. Instead of learning all the benefits of new systems, the book takes too much time preaching against the Industrial Revolution and its byproducts. A good book, but comes across as somewhat condemning.
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LibraryThing member maggieball
For those to are ecologically minded, a key part of creating any new product is to produce a life cycle assessment (LCA), which is also known as a cradle-to-grave analysis, working from manufacture (‘cradle’) to use and disposal (‘grave’). The LCA investigates all of the environmental
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impacts of that product and attempts to minimise that damage.One of the key premises of McDonough and Brangart’s Cradle to Cradle is that minimising damage just isn’t good enough. Instead, the authors propose that we change our entire design processes so that reuse and nourishment are built right into the process. Instead of minimising waste, we create value.Cradle to Cradle goes beyond the notion of having recycling as the final step in a process flow, and instead builds on the idea that waste need not exist at all. We can design our lives and products around the notion of nourishment – from the way we live to how we design and produce goods. The natural world provides the template for what the authors suggest, from the regenerative world of the insect, to the cherry tree, to the use of natural nutrients such as solar and wind power. They suggest that the key to working within, rather than against, nature is to respect biodiversity, respect the elegance and abundance of what is around us, and begin our design process with the notion of there is no such thing as waste.The writing style itself is clear, simple, and suitable for all ages and knowledge levels. Different readers will take different things from the book. It is addressed to those that do design for a living, and for those who are professionals in industry, this book will serve as a manual for development.But all of us are engaged in creation and consumption in one way or another (the machine I’m using to type this on, or the reams of paper my kids draw on to take two general examples) and the choices we make on how we will conduct those activities, and seeing ourselves as all being part of the great cradle to cradle cycle is an important step forward. The book spends some time discussing the whole notion of dangerous design principles, including the way in which “downcycling” only defers the problem as products become more and more unstable (and environmental problematic) as they are recycled. Although I’ve yet to see plastic books become a trend, the book itself is an example of how a product can be manufactured in a way that will be infinitely valuable. It’s made out of synthetic paper which doesn’t use wood pulp or any dangerous inks or substances, and is both waterproof and pleasurable to read, with nice thick pages and clear ink. The book goes into quite a lot of detail about what it would mean to design products that weren’t less bad, but rather 100% good. The authors look at architecture and how we can design buildings that take into account the diversity of their settings, and the natural needs of their inhabitants. The book concludes with “Five Steps to Eco-Effectiveness”, a neat summary of how to put the philosophical principles discussed in the book into practice. Some of these, such as “Step 2: Follow informed personal preferences” may seem a little unusual, advocating that we use our aesthetic sense, our observations and our own sense of pleasure (yes, pleasure) to guide our design decisions. While others, such as “Step 4: Reinvent” may seem almost too broad for the average reader. However, the book is full of so many specific examples, primarily from industry, that it’s easy to picture what they are advocating working in practice. After all, the book itself is not only beautifully and safely designed to fit the “cradle-to-cradle” philosophy, it is also written in a way that is easily read, linguistically elegant and appealing, and sound in its advice. As a writer, I can see the sense in taking on this wholistic approach to environmentalism, ditching the hysteria and the mass of finger-pointing practices which look green but which don’t actually make much of a difference, and taking on this approach in a whole body sense. It’s powerful stuff and the impact is starting to happen, perhaps a little too slowly, but, as the authors say, “it’s going to take forever…that’s the point.” Show Less
LibraryThing member seldombites
The authors of this book should, perhaps, stick with architecture and chemistry and leave writing books to others. The overall concept behind Cradle to Cradle is an interesting one, which is what prompted me to pick up this book in the first place. Unfortunately, I found this book incredibly
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boring, though I managed to struggle through to page 61 before giving up. Life is too short to read boring books! To add insult to injury, the authors have decided to prove their point by publishing their book on some kind of synthetic paper, making a relatively small book incredibly heavy to carry around. Cradle to Cradle will definitely not be making my recommendations list! Show Less
LibraryThing member jessicawest
this is an absolutely fantastic book that everyone needs to read. it is a critique of our disposable society, but it offers real hope and good ideas for the future. the main premise is that all of the products we use should have a cradle to cradle design, whereas now most have a cradle to grave
this could change not only the design of everyday products, but the way we use them and see them as a part of our world.
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design. they are not created to be reused. even recycling is not as useful when the product wasn't designed to be reused in that way. this could change not only the design of everyday products, but the way we use them and see them as a part of our world.
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LibraryThing member jimocracy
The author had a lot of criticism, a few ideas, and not a lot of action. Talking about the environment is not a very effective way to do anything about it. I was also creeped out by the author's veiled religious references. I also didn't appreciate the stereotypical notion that Native American
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people are environmentally minded and we should learn from them. Show Less
LibraryThing member sonyagreen
This book explains a lot about how we need to change how we produce things. It isn't a book that gives you a bunch of things you can do to change the world, but it's because how we're recycling and making positive eco-changes isn't enough.
It's worth reading, to understand what upcycling is. Or at
It's worth reading, to understand what upcycling is. Or at
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least read to that chapter. Show Less
LibraryThing member 2wonderY
The biggest thing about this book is the material used for the pages. It says it's a recyclable plastic. Well and good. But no where does it say how to appropriately dispose of it so it can be recycled.
Major detraction.
Major detraction.
LibraryThing member jonesjohnson
Want to change the way you look at every thing you own or consider purchasing? Here's how.
LibraryThing member mimi123
Have just finished reading Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. As a reluctant environmentalist, I was very impressed. Living as I do in a small flat, I find that recycling regimes assume you have a garden for lots of separate bins, or a large amount of indoor space to store
For years I have been moaning that everything is the wrong way around: 'Why do they make this so difficult? Why can't they just design things that are easy to recycle, or that can be re-used - this cannot be efficient!' After reading Cradle to Cradle I don't feel so much like a voice in the wilderness. I was impressed with the idea of products being designed with recycling in mind, either as biological or technological 'nutrients', although I wonder how this would work when some products are kept for years? It may be decades before some of these products are ready to be recycled and the system tested.
A lot of the book chronicles the exploits of the authors in their careers as architect and chemist, and by the end I had a mental image of them whizzing about the world solving the world's environmental woes, like environmental Supermen. It would be reassuring to learn that they weren't the only design practitioners trying to save the planet, but perhaps that's another book?
I also wonder what we as a society will leave behind if we really get to grips with recycling? The days of rummaging through waste tips to find antique jam jars and ginger bottles will be a thing of the past, and some artifacts may be lost to history in the urge to re-, down- and up-cycle?
An excellent book. Do the green thing and request it from your local library!
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all your detritus until it gets to the recycling point. In some locales, you are even expected to buy a car to drive to the recycling bins - crazy! Every time you visit someone who has a different recycling regime you have to get used to throwing something out you usually recycle, and saving something, you would have thrown out in another local authority.For years I have been moaning that everything is the wrong way around: 'Why do they make this so difficult? Why can't they just design things that are easy to recycle, or that can be re-used - this cannot be efficient!' After reading Cradle to Cradle I don't feel so much like a voice in the wilderness. I was impressed with the idea of products being designed with recycling in mind, either as biological or technological 'nutrients', although I wonder how this would work when some products are kept for years? It may be decades before some of these products are ready to be recycled and the system tested.
A lot of the book chronicles the exploits of the authors in their careers as architect and chemist, and by the end I had a mental image of them whizzing about the world solving the world's environmental woes, like environmental Supermen. It would be reassuring to learn that they weren't the only design practitioners trying to save the planet, but perhaps that's another book?
I also wonder what we as a society will leave behind if we really get to grips with recycling? The days of rummaging through waste tips to find antique jam jars and ginger bottles will be a thing of the past, and some artifacts may be lost to history in the urge to re-, down- and up-cycle?
An excellent book. Do the green thing and request it from your local library!
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LibraryThing member red.yardbird
Great book - everyone should read this. Some great practical ways to think about design and the way we go about life. Read it!
LibraryThing member tsedor
Challenges our thinking about how everything around us is designed and how we use it.
LibraryThing member The-Social-Hermit
I'm a freecycle/recycle/thriftshop geek and William McDonough's book, written with his colleague, the German chemist Michael Braungart, is a manifesto calling for the transformation of human industry through ecologically intelligent design.
LibraryThing member Pferdina
Read this for Sustainability Book Club. Interesting ideas, not sure how to make them happen. The book itself is an example of redesigning objects to fulfill the principles of sustainability. Made from synthetic paper, the ink can be washed off and reused when the book is recycled.
LibraryThing member joebart33
mind shifting. must read!
LibraryThing member Razinha
Scary. And educational - I was shocked to learn that chromium is used in leather tanning. Bottom line - doing less bad is still no good. Bottomer line - we have to change just about everything that we do. Cradle to grave is fallacious. As for throwing away - there is no more "away".
While the book
One really cool thing is that it is printed on a recycled/recyclable plastic "paper" with a reusable, non-toxic ink. It's heavier than a normal book of its size, but it still feels like paper.
While the book
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is really aimed at industry, there's a message for everyday humans. This book is idealistic and unrealistic, but that bottom line above still stares us in the face and in the end something must be done, or it will be the end.One really cool thing is that it is printed on a recycled/recyclable plastic "paper" with a reusable, non-toxic ink. It's heavier than a normal book of its size, but it still feels like paper.
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LibraryThing member salubanski
Instead of trying to reduce our negative effects on the world (being "eco-efficient") what you will find in this book is how to maximize our positive effects (how to be "eco-effective"). It involves truly taking responsibility for the things we create by considering from the start what happens to
What's great is that the book itself serves as an example of what it describes: it's not made of paper. Instead it's made of a high grade plastic that can be re-used by the manufacturer indefinitely or, if you'd rather keep it, can be safely placed on your shelf for many years without much wear. The ink can be stripped from the pages by the manufacturer and re-used to print other such books. This kind of construction makes the book extremely durable and waterproof while also providing for the possibility of upcycling.
It's not perfect, however. The kind of systems required for manufacturers to implement their cradle-to-cradle approach will take time to develop, since they will essentially need to completely overhaul the ingredients that go into making their products. They even admit they couldn't yet completely eliminate all harmful materials from the book's construction. However, I believe that any shift we could make towards cradle-to-cradle design would be beneficial; at least it gets us thinking about how the things we make could be safer.
In any case, the world of abundance the writers describe in the book is inspiring. I hope one day we'll have, as they invite us to imagine, "buildings like trees; cities like forests."
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our products at their end; switching from a "cradle-to-grave" approach to a "cradle-to-cradle" approach where products are made of biological nutrients (material that can be thrown away safely, even beneficially) or technical nutrients (material that can be safely recovered and re-used by industry).What's great is that the book itself serves as an example of what it describes: it's not made of paper. Instead it's made of a high grade plastic that can be re-used by the manufacturer indefinitely or, if you'd rather keep it, can be safely placed on your shelf for many years without much wear. The ink can be stripped from the pages by the manufacturer and re-used to print other such books. This kind of construction makes the book extremely durable and waterproof while also providing for the possibility of upcycling.
It's not perfect, however. The kind of systems required for manufacturers to implement their cradle-to-cradle approach will take time to develop, since they will essentially need to completely overhaul the ingredients that go into making their products. They even admit they couldn't yet completely eliminate all harmful materials from the book's construction. However, I believe that any shift we could make towards cradle-to-cradle design would be beneficial; at least it gets us thinking about how the things we make could be safer.
In any case, the world of abundance the writers describe in the book is inspiring. I hope one day we'll have, as they invite us to imagine, "buildings like trees; cities like forests."
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LibraryThing member LibraryCin
3.25 stars
The authors are an architect and a chemist who work together to make/create more environmentally-friendly/sustainable items. They actually start off by saying that what we mostly do now is not good enough; that is, there are still issues with trying to be not “as bad” vs. all-out bad.
It’s probably something we need to hear, but it’s new, and so for some things, I had a hard time wrapping my head around the ideas: eco-effective vs eco-efficient, upcycling vs downcycling, biological nutrients and technical nutrients, and more. I think I figured out downcycling -- when we currently recycle, this is what happens. This means that the items we recycle are being reused/remade, but they are of lower quality. Because they are of lower quality, more potential toxins/chemicals need to be added to “shore things up”, so to speak. I’m probably not explaining that well.
They did have some good examples and I think they are probably correct in what they are suggesting, but it was hard for me to figure all of it out. Maybe there needs to be more written on this, as the more I read, I’ll likely clue in a bit better. But what’s unfortunate (and I hadn’t realized) is that this book was published 20 years ago, in 2002. Without having heard much more about these concepts, I’m concerned that they haven’t really taken root, still.
The authors are an architect and a chemist who work together to make/create more environmentally-friendly/sustainable items. They actually start off by saying that what we mostly do now is not good enough; that is, there are still issues with trying to be not “as bad” vs. all-out bad.
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They want to make things “good” (for human health, for the environment, and even for company’s/industry’s bottom lines, economically. They say it can be done (and they have examples of things they’ve done working with various companies to do those things).It’s probably something we need to hear, but it’s new, and so for some things, I had a hard time wrapping my head around the ideas: eco-effective vs eco-efficient, upcycling vs downcycling, biological nutrients and technical nutrients, and more. I think I figured out downcycling -- when we currently recycle, this is what happens. This means that the items we recycle are being reused/remade, but they are of lower quality. Because they are of lower quality, more potential toxins/chemicals need to be added to “shore things up”, so to speak. I’m probably not explaining that well.
They did have some good examples and I think they are probably correct in what they are suggesting, but it was hard for me to figure all of it out. Maybe there needs to be more written on this, as the more I read, I’ll likely clue in a bit better. But what’s unfortunate (and I hadn’t realized) is that this book was published 20 years ago, in 2002. Without having heard much more about these concepts, I’m concerned that they haven’t really taken root, still.
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LibraryThing member thatotter
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it was interesting and inspiring to read about the authors' firm's eco-efficient designs. But for the most part it still seemed pretty pie in the sky--great ideas that unfortunately aren't feasible at this time.
I also don't like the authors'
I also don't like the authors'
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premise that it's possible to live an ecologically sound life without reducing consumption. It sounds appealing to believe that one shouldn't have to sacrifice one's lifestyle in order to fix the planet, but isn't uncritical consumption what got us into this environmental mess in the first place? Show Less
LibraryThing member saltypuppy
A great perspective on redesigning the way we approach recycling and resources in general.
LibraryThing member AAPremlall
I won a copy from an eco contest! I heard so much about it and finally had a chance to read it. Initially I thought it would have been a stiff and dry read, but it's incredibly enjoyable to read (for an econerdy gal like me) and truly gives me hope for humans and concern for not only ourselves but
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for the impact we have on the planet and on generations of life forms to come. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0865475873 / 9780865475878