I was the executive editor for this issue of CATALYST and Art Directed the design of the interior pages. I also partnered with Agros International to write their feature article.

1. Issue 3 I SPRING 2010
Designing
Climate-Safe Economies
Cradle to Cradle
Transitioning from Waste Incineration Greening Consumer Electronics
Building a Sustainable Economy, One Village at a Time Sustainable South Bronx
Tools for CATALYZING Change CATALYSTS: News from Members and Friends of the Pratt Design Management Program

2. CATALYST Perspective Table of Contents
The Director of the Pratt Design Management Program introduces the significance of this issue of CATALYST
1
The climate talks in Copenhagen presented an historic opportunity for a
few decision makers to shape the future of the six to nine billion people not
CATALYST 3
represented at the summit. Some 10,000 delegates had the opportunity to Perspective From the
balance the need to create economic value with the need to create economies CATALYST 5
that value life and community wellbeing.
Blog CATALYZING
Copenhagen did not deliver on its goal of continued economic growth, the Conversation
accompanied by poverty reduction and restorative practices that assure
the robust viability of our life support system. Action is now stalled as are 7
most economies. Cradle to Cradle: Transitioning from Waste
Incineration to Beneficial Materials
This issue of CATALYST focuses on those who will not be stalled. Those Cradle to Cradle author, Michael Braungart, and his
already working to create climate-safe economies using cradle to cradle co-authors present new opportunities for waste
practices. It offers hope and the power of example.
15
Cradle
We focus on real life and real-time efforts that are already improving lives Greening
and communities while adding economic value. We track the impact of cradle Consumer Electronics
to cradle practice in restoring community and natural capital. We explore Through Strategic Design
waste management practices that can create economic value while enabling Q&A with Clean Production
to Cradle
and enlivening. And, by so doing, we attempt to re-imagine and re-design Action (CPA)
the economic models that have created catastrophic risk as a by-product of
economic growth.
Binding agreements are made by governments, but we cannot wait for
governments to come to agreement on designing climate-safe economies.
23
We must come together across national boundaries and disciplines and © The Design Building a
Management Sustainable Economy,
commit to action even as our politicians deliberate. Life-centered design Program of
principles and cradle to cradle thinking can deliver a future of energy Pratt Institute, One Village at a Time
security, economic wellbeing and low carbon growth. Communities can February 2010 Agros International is using
prosper as markets do. The idea of balancing the needs of economy, equity microfinancing principles to
and environment are not a naïve hope, but rather, the only hope of sound eradicate poverty
economic growth.
Executive Editor: What to Expect
Climate change presents risks that we cannot take and opportunities that Erin Weber CATALYST Voices
we must seize to design and build an infrastructure for the future. Design CATALYST was designed to stimulate
matters. Strategic design can make a difference; “For good or for bad, our
globalized inventiveness is fusing our destinies into one civilization. So
Editorial Board:
Holly Burns
thinking and encourage conversation about
the role of strategic design in defining
37
Sustainable South Bronx:
together, humanity must choose wisely, and in this lifetime. Our common Dante Clemons and developing an economically, socially
future is our common design challenge.”1
Designing Pathways to a
Maggie de la Vega and environmentally sustainable future.
Serniqua Dougherty We have included numerous external links
Sustainable Community
Co-authored by an adjunct professor
Copenhagen was an event. The process of change is ongoing. The trend Maren Maier throughout the text and in the form of
Highlights include a collaboration
is positive. We are entering the Post Solution Economy. We now have Mary McBride “related resources” at the end of each article.
with the Pratt Design Incubator
the tools and theories needed to make sustainable practice the norm. Kevin Rorick CATALYST is accompanied by a blog that is
This issue highlights the way we make things and the way economies are Denise Tahara our means of continuing the conversation
changing – today. Adam Zoltowski between publications. Blog posts are related
to, as well as, unique from those in the digital
47
CATALYST is an international dialogue on strategic design sponsored and
Visual Design:
Aditi Mukherjee
publication. You can find the CATALYST blog
on our website:
Tools for CATALYZING Change
published by the graduate program in Design Management at Pratt Institute of The Global Deal by Nicholas Stern
Art and Design. Hot Flat & Crowded by Thomas Friedman
Illustrations: http://www.CATALYSTsdr.com Risk Metrics Climate Change Resource Center
Aditi Mukherjee
Dr. Mary McBride
Director of the Design Management Program at Pratt Institute Editors:
49
The next CATALYST theme will be
Eileen Kiley & Kristin Leu Designing Wellbeing CATALYSTS
Please submit article concepts and News from Alumni and Staff of the
Cover Photograph: recommendations for resources to: Pratt Design Management Program
1. Berman, David B. Do Good Design. New Riders, 2009. p16. Ira Lippke ©2009 CATALYSTsdr@gmail.com Mary McBride & GauRav Khanna
CRADLE TO CRADLE 2

3. From the CATALYST Blog
Highlights from the timely and diverse content found at www.CATALYSTsdr.com/blog
The Femme Den Have something to say? The CATALYST blog is seeking authors with a fresh perspective and a passion for topics surrounding
Why we should listen to the Super Women the theme of strategic design. CATALYST bloggers contribute monthly posts about topics that align with their personal area of expertise.
at SMART Design. Email CATALYSTsdr@gmail.com if you are interested in joining our team!
by Holly Burns
Women are not inherently passive or
peaceful. We’re not inherently anything but SEE Project (Europe):
human. ~Robin Morgan Design Policy Developments
Four employees at SMART Design are Why it’s successful. Using their strategic by Anna Whicher & Gisele Raulik-Murphy
designing for what women are – not what design toolkit, the Femme Den designs
they’re assumed to be. Whitney Hopkins, products while keeping the female brain and With the conclusion of 2009, there are
Agnete Enga, Erica Eden and Yvonne Lin body in mind. In their own words, “Our end many exciting design policy developments
are members of an internal collective, the game is to bridge the gap between assump- at the three policy levels in Europe: the
Luxurious India Femme Den, at SMART Design. They got tions and realities about women to explore European Union (EU), the Member States
An exploration of the opportunities and To begin with, international brands need
started in 2005 when Nike hired two of the underdeveloped opportunity for good and Regions. In the coming months the
challenges of the expansion of luxury goods to understand that Indian consumers
the women to help an all-male design team design.” The Femme Den often gathers men European Commission will be drafting a
into the Indian market. are vastly different from their western
turn around the low sales of their women’s and women separately, to informally discuss new innovation act, in which design will be
counterparts and not only that, but Indian
watches. Before then, Nike’s watches had design so they can take their perspectives a key component. Design is also included in
by Sapna Shah consumers in New Delhi or Punjab have
been designed to include athletic gadgets into account. the policy agenda within the individual EU
different purchasing behavior than their
A trip to Mumbai, India’s financial capital that made for a rather bulky watch. With the member states. Sharing Experience Europe
counterparts in Gujarat or Bangalore. From medical attire to army fatigues and
and glamour hub, leaves you reeling as you help of the women designers the watches (SEE), a network of eleven design organiza-
India’s geographic expanse ensures a nation equipment to technology, the women of the
walk through the newly developed malls were redesigned, sales quickly increased, tions across Europe led by Design Wales,
with a highly diverse culture and one that Femme Den are rethinking design in order
selling high-end luxury goods from brands and the value of Femme Den realized. has been working hard to lobby national and
makes it essential for brands to understand to ergonomically accommodate the female
like Louis Vuitton to Rolls Royce. The stark and appreciate this difference in forming regional governments to incorporate design
Filling a gap. The Femme Den’s primary gender and improve performance. Read and creativity into public policy. The project For each of these priorities, the SEE Policy
images of slum life shown in Slumdog relationships with these segments. This complaint about current design for women about their five guidelines to help designers is co-financed by the European Regional Booklet outlines the drivers and obstacles
Millionaire seem a distant reality as you involves going above and beyond superficial is that design teams often try to target make the connection by clicking here. While Development Fund through the Innovation for enhancing the performance of regional
come to terms with the emergence of the marketing stunts that bring an Indian female consumers by making things pink or I’m not completely sold on their name (re- & Environment Regions of Europe Sharing innovation policy, explores how design
new Indian consumer market. According celebrity onboard to endorse the brand using other stereotypes in an effort to reach minds me of a room that might be at Hugh Solutions (INTERREG IVC) programme. can be used to address the issue, provides
to Neilsen, a research group, India is the or use Indian colors, prints or fabrics to the female market. According to the Femme Hefner’s estate), I do like their ideas and illustrative case studies and puts forward
third-most brand conscious country in the design new products. Secondly, the Indian Den, “women buy or influence up to 80% of “smart design.” What do you think? Check In November 2009, SEE launched its first policy proposals.
world, trailing behind only Greece and Hong elite are accustomed to shopping abroad consumer goods.” Yet, the design world as out the Fast Company article for more Policy Booklet: Integrating Design Into
Kong. TimesOnline reported estimates by and expect the same level of variety and SEE has now set itself a number of targets
a whole does not design with this in mind. details about the Femme Den. Regional Innovation Policy. This publication
AT Kearney showing that by 2015 India will customer service in New Delhi that they get for raising the profile of design amongst re-
hit about 15 billion pounds in annual spend- presents an overview of innovation policy
in New York. This presents international gional policy-makers as a strategic process
ing on luxury goods, a dramatic increase priorities in the SEE partner regions. These
brands with the challenge of providing for identifying challenges and proposing
from 2008’s 2 billion. According to Forbes priorities were identified from national
these advantages in India to lure these sustainable solutions. The timing is apt
Asia, the total net worth of India’s 100 rich- and regional policy documents and were
customers while they may not attain the as much attention is currently focused on
est people in 2008 was approximately $276 weighed against the strategic priorities for
same sales volume in both places yet. innovation as a means out of the enduring
billion, about 25% of the country’s gross innovation identified by the European Com-
Lastly, international brands looking to economic stalemate. Therefore, there is a
domestic product, with the number of Indian mission. From this comparative analysis
successfully establish themselves in India real opportunity for design to contribute
billionaires rising from 27 to 52 last year. six common key issues emerged across the
need to build excellent relationships with to recovery and addressing societal chal-
Despite the general assumption and belief policy agendas:
customers, business partners as well as lenges. 2010 could see significant design
that international luxury brands will enjoy the Indian authorities. In most cases, this policy developments across Europe –
-Innovation in Services
significant gains in the Indian market, most requires the identification and formation you can follow our progress on the SEE
-Public Procurement
of them have not had the expected success of proper business partnerships in India project website.
-Collaborative Clusters & Networks
in wooing Indian consumers. Why is it that to gain access to established human -Lead Markets & Eco-innovation
international behemoths like Liz Claiborne, resources, processes, technology, supply, This is the first of four Policy Booklets to
-Intellectual Property Rights
Pierre Cardin, Bally and more recently distribution and information know-how to be published between 2009 and 2011. An
-Broadening the Scope of Innovation
Jimmy Choo had to retreat from the Indian build profitable customer relationships. electronic copy of the booklet is available to
market? Part of the reason is that most download from the SEE website:
brands try to use the one-size-fits-all model Although the road ahead for international http://seeproject.org/publications.
and apply the same kind of thinking that has brands in India is filled with challenges,
worked well for them in their home markets most find it impossible to resist the lure of
to India. How can these brands apply strate- the world’s largest free-market democracy
gic thinking to gain competitive and sustain- with a complex yet growing and increas- Read more posts on the CATALYST blog at:
able advantage in the Indian market? ingly attractive consumer market! www.CATALYSTsdr.com/blog
3 CATALYSTsdr.com CRADLE TO CRADLE 4

4. CATALYZING the Conversation
An introduction to this theme of CATALYST Strategic Design Review
Cradle to Cradle® Cradle to Cradle (C2C) design enhances
quality and adds value by taking inspira-
The C2C paradigm sets design principles
based on renewable energy and materi-
encourage a shift from “doing less bad” to
“doing good,” creating long-term positive ef-
Remaking the Way We Make Things
tion from nature, where everything is a als recycling in continuous pathways. This fects on the environment and human health.
nutrient for something else: waste = food. innovative approach encourages a new and (Some passages courtesy Philips Electronics)
C2C is the antithesis of the “Cradle to profitable model for business, by redefin-
True recycling is when all materials can be used repeatedly within nature or industry as biological or technical nutrients. Grave” paradigm, where products disap- ing the way design decisions are made that
pear in landfills or incinerate at the end
of their useful life.
Technical
Biological Nutrients:
Nutrients: Materials that can be used in
Organic materials that, continuous metabolisms without
once used, can be disposed losing their integrity or quality.
of in the natural environ- In this manner these materials
ment and decomposed in can be used over and over again
the soil, providing benefits instead of being “downcycled”
to life forms. into undefined products, ulti-
mately becoming waste.
5 CATALYSTsdr.com CRADLE TO CRADLE 6

5. Supervising Author
Dr. Michael Braungart is a chemist and
CRADLE TO CRADLE:
cofounder of Cradle to Cradle® Design and MBDC
McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry in
Charlottesville, Virginia. He has pioneered a new
paradigm in which humans can create a positive
ecological footprint by redesigning products and
systems to support a life-cycle economy.
Dr. Braungart developed the Cradle to Cradle® TRANSITIONING FROM WASTE INCINERATION
framework as a tool to help businesses redesign
using renewable biological and technical
pathways. TO BENEFICIAL MATERIALS
He is the scientific director of Environmental
Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA)
Internationale Umweltforschung GmbH and Lead Author Dr. Tanja Scheelhaase, EPEA Internationale Umweltforschung
continues to lecture at universities around the
world.
Co-authors
Douglas Mulhall, THE CURRENT SITUATION
Co-author and Editor, Senior Researcher, Cradle
to Cradle Chair, Erasmus University
Waste incineration as practiced today is a low-quality, end-of-pipe technology,
Haixiang Qian, requiring a new cradle to cradle design strategy. The process of burning
Co-Author, EPEA Internationale Umweltforschung
waste through incineration is widely used in many countries around the world.
Timo Siegmund, Recently, a new type of commercial waste incineration has gained in popularity,
Co-Author, EPEA Internationale Umweltforschung
based on a concept called “Waste to Energy.”
Under the umbrella of “green energy” generation, these new waste treatment
facilities burn waste to create secondary fuel, offering an alternative to primary
energy sources, such as coal.
This secondary fuel, also known as “Residue Derived Fuel” (RDF), is a mix of
household, industrial and commercial waste, conditioned for extracting high
caloric value to increase its electricity generation potential. Unfortunately, the
Executive Summary demand for “Waste to Energy” fuel is increasing as more incinerators are built.
To feed the industry’s appetite, more and more valuable materials are used as
Mixed waste incineration, often referred to as “Waste to Energy,” “energy
RDF, consequently sending the entire waste stream, including nutrients for
recovery,” or “thermal treatment” is widely recognized as a promising
‘green technology.’ These new incinerators burn waste to create alterna- recycling to the plants. Over time, this has created a significant overcapacity of
tive energy in the form of electricity and are growing in abundance around incineration facilities in places such as northern Europe, generating a suction
the world, In reality, however, “Waste to Energy” contributes to environ- effect for materials that are otherwise recyclable.
mental degradation and climate change at levels far beyond the short-term
benefits gained from producing secondary fuel. “Waste to Energy” is
literally wasting valuable resources by exacerbating raw material short-
ages and intensifying the loss of CO2-capturing topsoil. It also prevents
effective recycling solutions due to competition for high-caloric recyclable
content. In this article, scientists working with Prof. Michael Braungart
through EPEA develop a Cradle to Cradle strategy for transitioning from
“Waste to Energy” to a more effective strategic design: re-capturing ben-
eficial materials that encourage true recycling instead of downcycling, and
re-designing products so their materials can be recovered effectively.

6. SECONDARY FUEL – “Without more SHORTAGE OF RARE METALS raw material. Without more aggressive recycling initiatives,
WASTING NUTRIENTS antimony, which is used to make flame retardant materials,
aggressive recycling Worldwide consumption of raw materials is unsustainable will run out in 15 years, and silver in 10 years. Zinc, which
This new “Waste to Energy” paradigm fails to consider the initiatives, antimony, at its current pace. Loss of natural forests to agricultural is important for the human immune system, could be
high nutrient value of waste or the hazardous impacts of
burning them for cheap fuel. Through incineration, we are
which is used to land exceeds 5-7 million hectares globally per year.4,5,6 Oil,
uranium, heavy metals and phosphate have already been
exhausted by 2037. Finally, terbium, which is used to make
the green phosphors in fluorescent light bulbs, could run out
throwing away exhaustible raw materials, along with the make flame retardant the subject of numerous wars, and in the last ten years, the before 2012. Even reserves of such commonplace elements
energy needed to mine natural resources and manufacture
them into consumable products. With this approach, not
materials, will run use of many rare metals has accelerated at an alarming
rate. For example, indium is being used in unprecedented
as copper, nickel and phosphorus used in fertilizer might
run out in the not-too-distant future, given current rates of
only do we lose valuable nutrients, we also create an out in 15 years, and quantities for making LCDs on flat-screen TVs and tantalum consumption.7
aggressive disincentive for materials’ reuse.1 This is proven silver in 10 years.” is used to make compact electronic devices like cell phones,
and hafnium used to make computer chips. Global indium Unfortunately, the recycling rate of most of these metals is
by the fact that the rates of recycled waste have not
increased in the last few years despite the availability and and hafnium reserves are estimated to last 10 years at best. very low. Hardly any indium, tantalum or gallium is recycled,
high potential of recycling technologies 2. Indium’s impending scarcity can already be reflected in and as a result, these essential nutrients find their way to
its price: in January 2003 the metal sold for around $60 per incineration plants or landfill sites and are lost indefinitely.
Many governments seem to have forgotten that material kilogram; by August 2006 the price had risen to over $1000 Therefore, we are creating a material problem that is much
ALUMINIUM
recycling is essential for solving the increasing scarcity of (transport, per kilogram, leveling off at a modest $700 per kilogram in more imminent than our perceived energy shortage.1, 2, 4
raw materials on the world market. Setting policies that electrical, September 2009.7 For these reasons, a focus on designing high-quality
consumer materials recovery is the sensible path.
issue renewable energy tax credits to “Waste to Energy” durables) YEARS
incinerators only makes matters worse. In this way, a Another telling example is the metal gallium, which along
1027 1000
standard end of pipe paradigm has been set for the next with indium is used to make indium gallium arsenide.
20 years, representing the lifetime of these facilities. Our This is the semi-conducting material at the heart of a
Fig. 1 society has established a paradigm of self-impoverishment new generation of solar cells. Reserves of both metals are
in natural resources.1, 3 disputed, but the current estimation would inhibit these
cells from substantially contributing to the future supply of
solar electricity. In fact, estimates show that gallium and
How many indium will probably factor less than one percent of all PLATINUM
(jewelry, 500
future solar cells, a limitation imposed purely by a lack of
years left? 510 PHOSPHORUS
(fertilizer,
catalysts, fuel
cells for cars)
animal feed)
360
a IF THE WORLD 345
CONSUMES AT CHROMIUM
TODAY’S RATE TANTALUM (chrome
reserve base / (cellphones, plating, paint)
annual global camera lenses)
consumption
116
143 NICKEL 142 100
(assuming global (batteries,
consumption = turbine blades)
global production)
2007 2007
World Population US Population 90
6,580,000,000 301,000,000 Information graphic:
b IF THE WORLD Gordon et. al. 2006
CONSUMES AT PNAS 103:1209-1214
HALF THE US New Scientist 2007:
CONSUMPTION COPPER figures based on data
RATE (wire, coins, from US Geological
URANIUM
reserve base / plumbing) Survey and UN statistics
(weapons,
(1/2 US per capita on global population.
power stations)
consumption 2006 x 61
world population) 59 LEAD
GOLD 57
ZINC (lead pipes,
(galvanizing)
(jewelry, batteries) 50
dental)
TIN 42
46 45
40 SILVER (cans, solder)
40
(jewelry, 40 40 42
catalytic ANTIMONY 38 36
(drugs)
30 converters) 34 30
29 30
20 20
20 INDIUM
17 19 (LCDs)
10 13 13 10
9
8
YEARS REMAINING 0 4
0 YEARS
9 CATALYSTsdr.com CRADLE TO CRADLE: FROM WASTE INCINERATION TO BENEFICIAL MATERIALS 10

7. WASTE DOES NOT BURN WHEN MOST “WASTE TO ENERGY” INCINERATION AS The decisive factor is the right “energy- processes. Because of its high incineration
NUTRIENTS ARE REMOVED “RENEWABLE ENERGY” harvesting technology.” The technology to capacities, bio-waste is not separately collected
harvest solar energy and other renewable energy and composted or digested in many countries,
sources is widely accepted and rapidly being including many parts of Germany. Therefore,
The heating value of waste depends on ‘hi- CLAIMS ARE DECEPTIVE
caloric’ fractions like paper, plastics and organics, developed worldwide. Creating cheap fuel from these essential materials are lost to the nutrient
which create the high temperatures necessary waste is not required to supplement solar income, cycle and the topsoil production process.1, 17
Recent research discredited claims that
for effective secondary fuel generation. When and instead interferes with strategic allocation
incineration produces “green” and “renewable”
these are removed from the incineration stream, of energy investments.1
energy by demonstrating that some standard
through appropriate product design and proper “Waste to Energy” incinerators produce more
material flow management for separation and carbon dioxide from fossil fuels (such as plastics STRATEGY FOR TRANSITIONING FROM
recycling, there is no appreciable heating value of in rubbish) than a gas-fired power station.11 The “The Government and INCINERATION TO A CRADLE TO
the residual waste. independent study shows that electricity-only CRADLE ECONOMY
incinerators currently produce 33 percent more
waste industry must stop
In fact, by removing most materials like paper, fossil fuel derived CO2 per unit energy generated peddling the myth that Despite many available technologies to effectively
wood, plastics, and textiles out of the waste
stream, more than 80 percent of the heating
than a gas fired power station. By 2020, with waste incineration is green or recycle materials, most products on the market
increases in recycling and improved technology, such as paper, plastics, and non-ferrous metals
value is lost. This suggests that incineration is these incinerators will pollute almost as heavily renewable energy. Incinerators and their ingredients are not designed for nutrient
not only a barrier to effective recycling, it is also in terms of CO2 emissions as new or refitted coal- can generate electricity, but recovery. Those products contain multiple
an obsolete option.1 fired power stations, and 78 percent worse than additives, which are sometimes harmful either
new gas-fired power stations.12 they produce more climate to the environment or to humans and other
emissions than a gas-fired organisms. Low-quality materials with various
“WASTE TO ENERGY” INHIBITS Friends of the Earth summarized the situation this
power station.” additives inhibit the reuse or recycling of their
THE NUTRIENT CYCLE AND BLOCKS way: “The Government and waste industry must nutrients as post-consumer products,1 which
INNOVATION stop peddling the myth that waste incineration motivates businesses to simply incinerate the
is green or renewable energy. Incinerators can materials to get rid of the problem. Despite a
Many environmentally and ecologically sound generate electricity, but they produce more INCINERATION recent temporary drop in prices of resources
climate emissions than a gas-fired power station. and recycled materials from 2008 to 2009, the
recycling technologies exist today, and many WORSENS THE CO2 PROBLEM
additional methods are being developed to The Government must make it clear that they persistent trend is clear. Prices of resources are
process biological and technical nutrients, such will not support the building of such polluting Incineration of bio-waste also hinders topsoil increasing as they become more difficult and
as non-ferrous metals more effectively. Copper, plants. Using these incinerators to produce production. Compost is essential for humus expensive to extract from the natural environment.
for instance, has high recycling potential and energy will undermine Government attempts to production and for rebuilding topsoil that This price increase opens a door to a new
is especially important for use in electronics tackle climate change. Ministers must back truly sequesters CO2. More than twice as much
because of its electrical conductivity. The copper renewable energy sources instead.”13 CO2 is bonded in soil and biomass as in Fig. 2
content in incineration slag averages 0.64 the atmosphere.16 (See atmosphere and soil
percent, and scientists are exploring ways to The energy balance of incineration plants shows quantities in Figure 2).
THE CARBON CYCLE
economically recover these high levels in spite they may be more properly termed “Energy-
Wasting” plants.1, 14 An energy balance of a AND STORAGE
of the complexity of slag. Comparatively, the In the last 200 years, industrial countries lost
total copper content in natural ore also averages facility must include energy required for plant approximately 50 percent of their topsoil due to atmosphere 750 + 3.4 / YEAR carbon flow in gross ton (GT)/year
less than one percent1 and involves an intensive construction, and energy required for substitute various factors including industrial agriculture
mining process. Even as the copper “reserves- fuel production and refining. Taken together with carbon store in gross ton (GT)/year
to-production” ratio is estimated at 32 years, the primary energy input, auxiliary power and loss of
worldwide recycling rate of copper is down to heat, secondary fuel facilities clearly need more CO2 exhalation photosynthesis
only 10 percent).8,9 Plastic materials offer another energy input than they produce. 50 100 2
telling example, where roughly 55 percent of all
plastics are burned for energy recovery, rather The calculations in Figure 3 (page 14) illustrate volcanism
that the world does not have an energy problem 0.1 diffusion
than recycled for re-use.10 The increasing “Waste energy use
vegetation 550
to Energy” thermal treatment trend eclipses that necessitates combustion of waste for deforestation 6 ± 0.5 2 ± 0.8 90 90
advances in recovery techniques, blocking the generating energy. Available solar and degradation
degradation
necessary innovations for top quality recycling of income is more than a thousand 1.6 ±1
50
plastics, paper and biological waste treatment, as fold greater than our
well as the design for recovery of biological and present energy 50
technical nutrients.1 needs.15 dieback
ocean 40,000 Mix Bed 35
soil 1,500
Tide 35
fossil fuel 5,000
Deep Sea 0.2
sediment 100,000,000 Sedimentation
11 CATALYSTsdr.com

8. Cradle to Cradle® (see pages 5&6) economy, The combination of those strategies rather than REFERENCES Fig 3. Solar income in comparison to human demand
where companies can gain internal profits from any one single approach produces a profitable
“Available solar income is more than a
recovering beneficial materials from products. result for recycling resources. 1 EPEA GmbH, “Zunkunft: Verbrennen?“ Von der
The steps to achieving profitable cradle to cradle Abfallverbrennung hin zur Kreislaufschöpfunf nach thousand fold greater than our present
metabolisms are summarized here: WASTE INCINERATION CAN BE A Cradle to Cradle®, Scheelhaase, Semisch,
Hamburg 2008
energy needs”
TRANSITION TECHNIQUE ONLY IF
NARROWLY DEFINED 122
,000,000,
“Prices of resources are increasing.
2 EPEA Internationale Umweltforschung GmbH, 00
:
Thesen zu “Neue Ersatzbrennstoff-Anlagen – kein ity 0
c
Ersatz für intelligentes Stoffstrommanagement“,
This price increase opens a door
,00
pa
“Waste to Energy” incineration is only ecologically
Hamburg Mai 2007
Solar Ca
0,00
worthwhile as a transition technique for products
to a new cradle to cradle® economy, that cannot be recycled. In such cases, it is
0 watts
3 NABU Deutschland; Studie: Müllverbrennung in
important to establish energy recovery from Deutschland wächst unkontrolliert – Recycling ist
where companies can gain internal the high caloric fraction thermal treatment gefährdet, Müllimport wird attraktiver; (2009)
and limit it to cases where a defined transition
profits from recovering beneficial strategy is underway. 4 Ecoprog/Fraunhofer Institut Umwelt-,Sicherheits-,
Energietechnick UMSICHT: Der Weltmarkt für
materials from products.” If thermal treatment is necessary to incinerate
Müllverbrennungsanlagen, Köln/Oberhausen 2008
Human Energy Consumption:
poorly designed products that are not recyclable, 5 Norddeutsche Affinerie: Geschäftsbericht 2005/2006 12,000,000,000,000 watts
then modular “Waste to Energy” facilities provide
6 EPEA, Bedeutung von Kompost, für Erhalt und
1 Establish nutrient pathways for ingredients, the preferred option as an interim solution.
Verbesserung der Bodenqualität, Hamburg 2003
Strategy In Action
materials and products so they can be used as A modular facility starts with a module for
biological or technical nutrients. mechanical treatment of waste fractions followed 7 David Cohen, Earth’s natural wealth: an audit,
by several combustion modules. These modules NewScientist.com news service , 23 May 2007
2 Rematerialize biological nutrients to can have the same capacity as combustion www.science.org.au/nova/newscientist/
027ns_005.htm
Profitable Recycling
chambers of conventional incinerators, but the
simultaneously generate energy and reusable
big advantage is more flexibility with several
materials. Sample metabolism processes include 8 U.S. Department of the Interior; USGS Mineral » Establish nutrient pathways for ingredients,
small combustion modules. The benefit is that
biodigestion, composting, fermentation, and
the system need not rely on huge amounts of
Commodity Specialist, Minerals Yearbook materials and products so they can be used as
gasification, which factor in CO2 sequestration, biological or technical nutrients (pages 6 & 7)
waste as in conventional systems. A modular 9 Gerling, P. & Wellmer, F.: Wie lange gibt es noch Erdöl
humus regeneration and reuse for fertilizing.
organization has the ability to adapt to the und Erdgas?
available fuel. In: Chem. unserer Zeit, 2005, 39, S. 236-245 » Rematerialize biological nutrients
3 Establish Preference Lists (P-Lists) for
chemicals and materials in industrial products 10 Ayres, R. U., Ayres, L. W., Rade, I. : The Life cycle
» Establish Preference Lists (P-Lists) for
so they can either be safely released into the of Copper, its Co-Products and By-Products. IIED,
biosphere, recycled effectively at the same quality CONCLUSION Fontainebleau Cesex 2002 chemicals and materials
level instead of down cycled, or down cycled in
11 Plastics Europe: Consultic Studie 2005 Produktion, » Design for assembly and disassembly
safe and defined pathways which lead back to Waste incineration is an end-of-pipe technology Verarbeitung und Verwertung von Kunststoffen in
biological metabolisms. based on the Cradle to Grave paradigm. It is not Deutschland
the best solution for energy recovery or waste » Establish dedicated collecting logistics and
4 Design for assembly and disassembly to make disposal, and if set as a standard, it will inhibit all 12 EUNOMIA research&consulting, A changing climate
recycling lines
efforts for material cycles. for energy from Waste? Report for friends of Earth
products as technical nutrients that can be easily
(FOE), May 2006
put together and taken apart. » Celebrate diversity
The preferred pathway is an effective 13 EUNOMIA research&consulting, A changing climate
5 Establish dedicated collecting logistics product-design concept involving optimal for energy from Waste? Report for friends of Earth » Establish new supply chain partnerships
and recycling lines that profitably separate separation in biological and technical nutrients (FOE), May 2006
and recover resources from pre- and post- and complete reuse of materials at the same
quality level. Recovery of nutrients such as 14 Friends of the Earth’s Senior Waste Campaigner, Dr
consumer products.
Michael Warhurst, 2006
phosphorous, metals, and essential elements is
6 Celebrate diversity and design systems necessary to a sustainable industrial system in 15 Umwelt-Medizin-Gesellschaft;
for regions with differing infrastructures and the 21st Century. MÜLLVERBRENNUNGVERSUS RELATED RESOURCES
materials requirements. KREISLAUFWIRTSCHAFT“; Heft 03/2008
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
16 Solar-terrestrische Strahlungsbilanz, Michael Braungart and William McDonough, North
7 Establish new supply chain partnerships, http://www.schulphysik.de/bilanz2.html [28.03.07] Point Press, N.Y.: 2002.
such as open mechanisms for cross-link
cooperation, materials pooling between 17 Huhn B., Der Kohlenstoffkreislauf
CATALYST WEBSITE
different industries and exchanging innovations
18 Oechtering, A.: Potenzial zur Optimierung und
in individual industries.
zum Ausbau der Kompostierung, BIOMASSE-FORUM Continue the conversation about Waste Energy
Witzenhausen 24. – 25. October 2007 alternatives on: CATALYSTsdr.com
13 CATALYSTsdr.com CRADLE TO CRADLE: FROM WASTE INCINERATION TO BENEFICIAL MATERIALS 14

9. Alexandra J. McPherson
Managing Director, Clean Production Action
For the past twelve years, Alexandra McPherson has worked
in the environmental nonprofit industry developing and
leveraging support for policy and business solutions to some
of our most pressing environmental challenges. She has
written publications and developed initiatives that demonstrate
the viability of new solutions such as Green Chemistry and
producer responsibility.
through
strategic
In 2001, Ms. McPherson was chosen to launch a new dynamic
start-up organization, Clean Production Action (CPA), which
is dedicated to designing solutions for greener chemicals,
sustainable materials and environmentally preferred products.
Ms. McPherson directs CPA’s programmatic work in the
electronics sector with the aim of establishing tools and
design
resources that allow for the use of sustainable material systems.
She has co-authored numerous publications, including the
first toolkit on extended producer responsibility (an innovative
material strategy that holds producers responsible for the
life cycle impact of their products) and Greening Consumer
Electronics: the move away from Bromine and Chlorine.
“Thousands of substances are used
to meet the highly complex and
technical performance requirements
of today’s electronic products.
Executive Summary
As growing volumes of consumer electronic
Electronics manufacturers, standards bodies and
legislators have begun to take notice of the human
products enter the waste and recycling
health and environmental concerns associated with streams, substances of high concern are
the use of brominated and chlorinated compounds unintentionally released into the environment.
in electronic products. An array of conflicting At present, the infrastructure to safely reuse
definitions and policies have emerged to address
and recycle obsolete equipment is insufficient.
these concerns at various levels. A new report
called Greening Consumer Electronics is intended In addition, electronic waste, one of the
to show the feasibility of re­ ngineering consumer
e fastest growing waste streams in the world, is
electronic products in order to avoid the use of these increasingly exported to developing countries
compounds. It recommends a definition to address
with even less capacity for appropriate
human health and environmental concerns that can be
implemented by various industries. waste management.
CATALYST editors Maggie de la Vega and Kevin Rorick In 2003, the European Union responded
sat down with Alexandra McPherson to learn more.
with two precedent-setting directives:
WEEE, the Waste from Electronic and
Electrical Equipment directive, which
requires companies to take back and recycle
their equipment; and RoHS, the Restriction
of Hazardous Substance directive, which
restricts the use of certain heavy metals
and brominated flame retardants.”
Greening Consumer Electronics