Skip to content

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things Paperback - 2002

by William McDonough; Michael Braungart


Summary

“Reduce, reuse, recycle” urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. But as this provocative, visionary book argues, this approach perpetuates a one-way, “cradle to grave” manufacturing model that dates to the Industrial Revolution and casts off as much as 90 percent of the materials it uses as waste, much of it toxic. Why not challenge the notion that human industry must inevitably damage the natural world? In fact, why not take nature itself as our model? A tree produces thousands of blossoms in order to create another tree, yet we do not consider its abundance wasteful but safe, beautiful, and highly effective; hence, “waste equals food” is the first principle the book sets forth. Products might be designed so that, after their useful life, they provide nourishment for something new-either as “biological nutrients” that safely re-enter the environment or as “technical nutrients” that circulate within closed-loop industrial cycles, without being “downcycled” into low-grade uses (as most “recyclables” now are). Elaborating their principles from experience (re)designing everything from carpeting to corporate campuses, William McDonough and Michael Braungart make an exciting and viable case for change.

From the publisher

A manifesto for a radically different philosophy and practice of manufacture and environmentalism "Reduce, reuse, recycle" urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. But as this provocative, visionary book argues, this approach perpetuates a one-way, "cradle to grave" manufacturing model that dates to the Industrial Revolution and casts off as much as 90 percent of the materials it uses as waste, much of it toxic. Why not challenge the notion that human industry must inevitably damage the natural world? In fact, why not take nature itself as our model? A tree produces thousands of blossoms in order to create another tree, yet we do not consider its abundance wasteful but safe, beautiful, and highly effective; hence, "waste equals food" is the first principle the book sets forth. Products might be designed so that, after their useful life, they provide nourishment for something new-either as "biological nutrients" that safely re-enter the environment or as "technical nutrients" that circulate within closed-loop industrial cycles, without being "downcycled" into low-grade uses (as most "recyclables" now are). Elaborating their principles from experience (re)designing everything from carpeting to corporate campuses, William McDonough and Michael Braungart make an exciting and viable case for change.

First line

In the spring of 1912, one of the largest moving objects ever created by human beings left Southampton, England, and began gliding toward New York.

Details

  • Title Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
  • Author William McDonough; Michael Braungart
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition [ Edition: first
  • Pages 208
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher North Point Press, Gordonsville, Virginia, U.s.a.
  • Date 2002-04-22
  • ISBN 9780865475878 / 0865475873
  • Weight 1.22 lbs (0.55 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.88 x 5.14 x 0.68 in (20.02 x 13.06 x 1.73 cm)
  • Themes
    • Holiday: Earth Day
    • Topical: Ecology
  • Library of Congress subjects Recycling (Waste, etc.), Industrial management - Environmental aspects
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2001044245
  • Dewey Decimal Code 745.2

Media reviews

Citations

  • Choice, 10/01/2002, Page 305
  • Discover, 07/01/2002, Page 87
  • Kirkus Reviews, 02/01/2002, Page 164
  • Mother Jones, 03/01/2002, Page 82
  • Publishers Weekly, 02/11/2002, Page 170

About the author

William McDonough is an architect and the founding principal of William McDonough + Partners, Architecture and Community Design, based in Charlottesville, Virginia. From 1994 to 1999 he served as dean of the school of architecture at the University of Virginia. In 1999 Time magazine recognized him as a "Hero for the Planet," stating that "his utopianism is grounded in a unified philosophy that--in demonstrable and practical ways--is changing the design of the world." In 1996, he received the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development, the highest environmental honor given by United States. Michael Braungart is a chemist and the founder of the Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA) in Hamburg, Germany. Prior to starting EPEA, he was the director of the chemistry section for Greenpeace. Since 1984 he has been lecturing at universities, businesses, and institutions around the world on critical new concepts for ecological chemistry and materials flow management. Dr. Braungart is the recipient of numerous honors, awards, and fellowships from the Heinz Endowment, the W. Alton Jones Foundation, and other organizations. In 1995 the authors created McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, a product and systems development firm assisting client companies in implementing their unique sustaining design protocol. Their clients include Ford Motor Company, Nike, Herman Miller, BASF, DesignTex, Pendleton, Volvo, and the city of Chicago.

Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

by McDonough, William

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
UsedVeryGood
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780865475878
ISBN 10
0865475873
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Tucker, Georgia, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$3.06
A$6.94 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedVeryGood. All orders ship by next business day! This is a used paperback book. Has wear on cover and/or pages. Book has no markings on pages. Has a personalized note/signature just inside the cover. For USED books, we cannot guarantee supplemental materials such as CDs, DVDs, access codes and other materials. We are a small company and very thankful for your business!
Item Price
A$3.06
A$6.94 shipping to USA
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

by McDonough, William; Braungart, Michael

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780865475878
ISBN 10
0865475873
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$8.04
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
North Point Press, 2002-04-22. Paperback. Acceptable. 84x12x130.
Item Price
A$8.04
FREE shipping to USA
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

by Michael Braungart; William McDonough

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780865475878
ISBN 10
0865475873
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Houston, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$8.10
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
North Point Press, 2002-04-22. Paperback. Good. 8x5x0.
Item Price
A$8.10
FREE shipping to USA
Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Cradle

by William McDonough

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780865475878
ISBN 10
0865475873
Quantity Available
45
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$9.45
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2002. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
A$9.45
FREE shipping to USA
Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Cradle

by William McDonough

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780865475878
ISBN 10
0865475873
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$9.45
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2002. Paperback. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
A$9.45
FREE shipping to USA
Cradle to Cradle : Remaking the Way We Make Things
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Cradle to Cradle : Remaking the Way We Make Things

by Braungart, Michael, McDonough, William

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780865475878
ISBN 10
0865475873
Quantity Available
7
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$10.53
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
A$10.53
FREE shipping to USA
Cradle to Cradle : Remaking the Way We Make Things
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Cradle to Cradle : Remaking the Way We Make Things

by Braungart, Michael, McDonough, William

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780865475878
ISBN 10
0865475873
Quantity Available
6
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$10.53
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
A$10.53
FREE shipping to USA
Cradle to Cradle : Remaking the Way We Make Things
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Cradle to Cradle : Remaking the Way We Make Things

by Braungart, Michael, McDonough, William

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780865475878
ISBN 10
0865475873
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$10.53
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
A$10.53
FREE shipping to USA
Cradle to Cradle : Remaking the Way We Make Things
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Cradle to Cradle : Remaking the Way We Make Things

by Braungart, Michael, McDonough, William

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780865475878
ISBN 10
0865475873
Quantity Available
15
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$10.53
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
A$10.53
FREE shipping to USA
Cradle to Cradle : Remaking the Way We Make Things
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Cradle to Cradle : Remaking the Way We Make Things

by Braungart, Michael, McDonough, William

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780865475878
ISBN 10
0865475873
Quantity Available
5
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$10.53
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
A$10.53
FREE shipping to USA