Cradle to Cradle criteria for the built environment

The positive agenda of Cradle to Cradle establishes a new paradigm for redesigning in the built environment. Cradle to Cradle consists of a philosophy, quantifiable principles, and implementation tools that together comprise an innovation platform for enhancing the quality of materials, energy and biodiversity. This platform generates social, economic and eco-effective benefits, which go beyond the conventional sustainability approach of using eco-efficiency to minimize environmental impacts. Cradle to Cradle is well known through earlier published works but most practitioners in the built environment are still unfamiliar with how to apply its principles. The framework here provides an introduction to the philosophy then translates the three basic Cradle to Cradle principles into criteria that can be quantifiably applied and evaluated. It further describes implementation criteria, which allow the innovative integration of defined financial, contract, and design application tools. Definitions of Cradle to Cradle energy in relation to climate change gases are also provided.