A cradle-to-cradle sustainability model is a design approach that seeks to reuse all materials and components and eliminate waste. It is based on the concept of circular economy, which aims to keep materials in use for as long as possible and regenerate natural systems12. A cradle-to-cradle sustainability model follows the principle of a potentially infinite circular economy, where all products are designed to be either biodegradable or recyclable3.
An example of a cradle-to-cradle sustainability model would be a coffee shop that collects paper waste in its restaurants, has a selected supplier collect the paper waste to be recycled, and then purchases paper products from that supplier. This example shows how the coffee shop closes theloop of the paper material cycle, by reusing the paper waste as an input for new paper products. This way, the coffee shop reduces its environmental impact, saves resources, and supports the circular economy.
The other options are not examples of a cradle-to-cradle sustainability model, because they do not reuse all materials and components and eliminate waste. A laundry service that collects dirty baby clothes from families, cleans them in large, efficient batches, and then sorts and delivers them back to each family is an example of a service-based business model, which reduces the need for owning products and extends their lifespan, but does not necessarily reuse or recycle the materials4. A company that uses wood that has been gathered from multiple sources to construct items, such as beds and toys for babies and young children is an example of a product-based business model, which may use renewable or recycled materials, but does not guarantee that the products are biodegradable or recyclable5. A bank that offers the lowest interest rates on loans to firms that are committed to using recycled materials and implementing zero-waste initiatives in their processes is an example of a financial incentive scheme, which encourages sustainable practices, but does not directly reuse or recycle materials6.
