Cradle2Cradle

http://www.mcdonough.com/images/cradle_cover.gif

Cradle to Cradle

A variation on the coined 'Cradle to Grave' phrase that illustrates the way design of many products are engineered. Extracted from the earth(cradle), synthesized, molded, pushed, poked, forged, sold to the consumer and in the end inevitably ends up in a landfill(grave)

"Cradle to Cradle" is an amazing approach/model to designing anything. Its a nature based model, it mimics powerfully simple prinicples/solutions that occur in nature. It takes the linear, broken, and harmful 'Cradle to Grave' model and turns it into a cyclical, self-contained/complete, flourishing model.

http://www.mcdonough.com/images/fractal.gif

When you want to design something you are 'signaling an intention'. What do you want that intention to be? (to be updated)

Some principles explained:

1. Waste = Food
   In 'nature' the concept of 'Waste' has no such meaning. Everything (that is organic) can be re-absorbed, broken-down, disintegrated and re-integrated back in to the eco-system. Examples: Carbon-Di-oxide emitted from humans is used by plants and trees as food; A Cherry tree blossoms and fruit will help the tree 'reproduce' and germinate. They also fall to the ground, breakdown and nourish the earth around it replenishing it with minerals; Nitrogen from Urine and Dictionary:Feces is food for bacteria (Potential to transmute it into very potent fertalizer. See HumaNure) Waste = Food.

1. Use Current Solar Economy
2. Celebrate Diversity
3. Don't Be Less-Bad, be Good

Book: Cradle to Cradle (WilliamMcDonough MichaelBraungart) ISBN 0865475873 (the book is an actual factual testament to the Cradle2Cradle approach. The 1st chapter is named "This book is not a tree". Its made from synthetic plastics and resin which can be reused (it brags) 'infinitely' to produce more books without any organic material and with no harmful consiquences on the environment
Movie: website (only description, no samples)

Links:

http://www.mcdonough.com/full.htm
http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm
http://books.slashdot.org/books/02/06/03/1245253.shtml?tid=134 

Talk to Kunda on Efnet #seti23 for more info.