Cradle to Cradle
DSM’s Cradle to Cradle (C2C) activities are directly targeted at the growing interest in recycling and the ultimate goal of closed loop systems.
What is ‘Cradle to Cradle’?
C2C is a sustainability model that was developed in the 1990s by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. It is based on a commitment to smarter innovation and product design, through which materials can be recycled and reused to maximize their material value without damaging ecosystems.
How does it work? The model imitates nature and natural processes to form a closed 360-degree cycle. The cycle starts with the extraction of a raw material. It continues through the manufacturing process and into the product’s working life. Then it comes full circle when the product re-enters nature as a raw material.
DSM is convinced of C2C’s potential to achieve greater sustainability.
Getting involved
From 1999 to 2001, DSM teamed up with Honeywell to operate the world’s first large-scale carpet recycling plant in Augusta, USA. And in 2008, we partnered with Michael Braungart’s Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency to jointly develop C2C solutions. The results were promising. Soon we felt the need to approach C2C from a more business-oriented perspective.
DSM and C2C fitness
To work properly, C2C solutions demand full life-cycle assessment and certification. DSM materials are currently used in several C2C-certified products, including a recently introduced C2C street bench. In 2009, we conducted a project with the Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency to screen our products for C2C fitness as a prelude to grasping new opportunities. This is all part of our strategy to listen to arising industry needs and then respond where we believe we can add value. In 2010 DSM Engineering Plastics announced that five of its performance materials had been awarded Cradle to Cradle® certification, creating new business opportunities for DSM.
