Cradle-to-Cradle Certification: A Journey Towards Sustainable Fashion
What does Cradle to Cradle Certified® mean?
Cradle to Cradle Certified® is the certification mark of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. It is a measure of safer, more sustainable products for the circular economy. It provides a comprehensive framework for assessing materials and products across five categories of sustainability performance:
Material health: This category ensures that products are designed using ingredients that are safe for human health and the environment. It involves identifying and screening out potentially harmful substances. An example could be a textile company choosing to use organic cotton and non-toxic dyes in their manufacturing process.
Material Reutilization: This involves designing products in a way that they can continually circulate in technical or biological cycles once they have reached the end of their useful life. This means that when a garment has reached the end of its life - maybe it is worn out, or the owner no longer wants it - it is not just thrown away. Instead, the garment is returned to the company. The company has designed their clothes so that they can be easily disassembled. The buttons and zippers are removed for reuse in new garments. The fabric itself, if made from a single material, can be recycled into new textile fibers.
Renewable energy and carbon management: This category encourages the use of renewable energy while striving for carbon neutrality in manufacturing processes. For instance, a company may install solar panels on its factory roofs to offset its energy use and reduce its carbon footprint.
Water stewardship: This is about managing water in a way that is clean, safe, and beneficial to people and the environment. A company practicing good water stewardship might implement water recycling systems in their factories, or work to protect local watersheds where they source their water.
Social fairness: This category aims to create business operations that respect and prioritize all individuals and environmental systems affected by the creation, use, disposal, or reuse of a product. This might include fair labor practices, investment in community development, and ensuring the health and safety of workers.
Image credit: c2ccertified.org
The process of getting a product Cradle to Cradle Certified® involves a rigorous assessment that examines the product according to the aforementioned five categories. To ensure objectivity and credibility, companies engage with an independent assessment body. This body assesses and verifies a product’s performance across all Cradle to Cradle Certified® performance categories. To achieve certification, a product must meet the minimum requirements in all categories and not contain any banned substances on the Cradle to Cradle “Banned Lists.” These lists are composed of substances that are not allowed in Cradle to Cradle Certified® products because of their high potential for harm to humans or the environment.
The Banned Lists contain chemicals and substances known to be harmful, such as carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxicants, and others that have been internationally restricted or banned. These might include certain heavy metals and chlorinated compounds, among others.
The intent behind these lists is to drive innovation and encourage manufacturers to find safer alternatives for these harmful substances. This helps ensure that the products we use every day are not only effective but also safe for us and the environment.
The specific substances on the Banned Lists can vary depending on the product category and certification level, and the lists are periodically updated to reflect new scientific knowledge.
Any eligible product or material that satisfies the requirements set out in the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard can obtain certification. This includes garments in the fashion industry, promoting a more sustainable and responsible approach to fashion production. This certification is granted based on four ascending levels of achievement: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These levels reflect the product’s performance in each category. The product's overall certification level is determined by its lowest category achievement level, a system designed to encourage ongoing evolution and continuous innovation.
Image source: c2ccertified.org
Basic: This is the entry-level and signifies that the manufacturer has begun the process of inventorying chemical ingredients and has initiated an assessment of them.
Bronze: At this level, the product meets more stringent requirements. It must not contain any substances on the banned list at a concentration above 1000 ppm (parts per million). Also, it must have a plan for optimizing material health.
Silver: To achieve this level, the product must not contain any substances on the banned list above 100 ppm. Additionally, the product must be 50% recyclable or designed to biodegrade, and at least 5% of its materials must come from renewable sources.
Gold: This level requires no substances on the banned list above 100 ppm. The product must be 100% recyclable or designed to biodegrade, and at least 50% of its materials must come from renewable sources. The company must also demonstrate responsible water use and social responsibility strategies.
Platinum: This is the highest level of certification. The product must have 100% of its materials sourced renewably or offset with renewable energy credits, and it must demonstrate leadership in areas like water stewardship and social fairness. No substances on the banned list are allowed at any concentration.
Products that earn active certification are listed in the publicly available Cradle to Cradle Certified® Products Registry, providing transparency to consumers and stakeholders about the product's sustainability credentials.
Triennial Recertification
Under Version 4.0 of the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard, recertification is mandatory every three years. To successfully recertify, companies need to demonstrate measurable improvements in their product's sustainability performance. This requirement not only provides a pathway for measurable enhancements and innovation but also encourages and rewards the pursuit of continuous improvement toward positive impacts over time.
Napapijri, an Italian premium outdoor fashion brand owned by VF Corporation, is a prime example of a company that has achieved Cradle-to-Cradle certification. The brand has introduced a 100% recyclable clothing collection named the Circular Series. Each piece in this innovative collection is designed from a single material, Nylon 6, making it not only durable and high-performing but also easily recyclable. Moreover, to ensure these garments are returned for recycling at the end of their lifecycle, the company encourages customers to register their products online and offers incentives for returning used items. This approach allows the brand to uphold its commitment to reducing waste and lessening reliance on virgin resources, showcasing the principles of a circular economy. Napapijri's efforts underline the essence of Cradle-to-Cradle certification, which emphasizes product design that considers the entire lifecycle, ultimately aiming for a waste-free system where every element is continually reused or safely returned to nature
Image source: napapijri.co.uk
In conclusion, Cradle to Cradle Certified® serves not just as a certification but as a philosophy for product design. It promotes a new way of thinking about how we design and produce goods, with an eye towards their full lifecycle and beyond. It is a key tool in our collective efforts to create a more sustainable and equitable world.
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