Cradle to Grave and Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Grave and Cradle to Cradle Life Cycle

Cradle to Grave (C2G) and Cradle to Cradle (C2C) are two ways of looking at the life cycle of a product or system, such as a building to determine the full extent of their impact during their full life cycle. Life cycle of either type will include the time and effort (energy) to extract the raw materials, delivery to a manufacturing facility, use and final disposal or reuse. C2G is also used to include the life cycle of hazardous materials and includes the chain of ownership from extraction to final disposal. Historically C2G has been the method used for using materials with the final disposition to be a landfill. The concept for C2C was first coined in the 1970’s with the current philosophy developed and copy written by Michael Braungart and William McDonough. They published “Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things” in 2002. C2C is at the simplest a closed loop where instead of sending the product to a landfill it is sent back to be recycled for use in the same process, or upgraded for use into another process.

C2G has been used throughout history. The total cycle goes from extraction of the raw materials to manufacturing, on site construction, operation/maintenance, demolition and finally disposal. In the 20th Century due to cost of landfill operation and increased environmental awareness recycling became more important. Many cities and industries in an effort to cut overall costs have found more cost effective ways to use left-over materials that will allow additional return of their investments or less cost to the citizens.

The City of Shreveport , LA along with many other cities has developed a recycle program that partners the city with Pratt Industries to provide them with waste paper if they will remove, sort and sell recycled waste collected inside the limits of the city. This provides raw material to the Pratt Paper Company and provides a further return to the company as...