You’ve heard the phrase “cradle to grave,” meaning from the time something is made to the time it is disposed of. This is the point where we generally start trying to solve the problem—nuclear waste, garbage, landfills, exhaust fumes, and so on. “Cradle to cradle” design starts much earlier and emulates a process parallel to plant growth and composting: the vegetation that we do not eat breaks down and fertilizes the next round of growth.

The designer bears responsibility for what happens to the product after its useful life is over—how can it be disposed of or reused appropriately? This is different than recycling--which is often “down-cycling,” meaning that the product that results is generally lower on the chain then what you started with. (For example, the three different kinds of metal that are layered in an aluminum can are melted into one blended, inferior metal in the recycling process).

[via Laryn and Janel Online]