Charlottesville, Va. — McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) is proud to announce the opening of its Cradle to Cradle Certification program. The program is designed to emphasize human and ecological health, the potential for a product to be truly recycled or safely composted, and the process of continuous improvement along the cradle-to-cradle trajectory. Co-founder William McDonough has invited companies to “submit their products for certification and expand their definition of product quality, market leadership and corporate reputation” through the Cradle to Cradle Design framework.

MBDC will certify products as Silver, Gold or Platinum, or as a Technical/Biological Nutrient (available for homogeneous materials or less complex products), if they achieve the necessary criteria. MBDC extensively assesses each candidate product using the following measures:

• Potential impacts of ingredient chemistry on human and environmental health, along with strategies for phasing out any ingredients of concern;
• Product is recyclable following its use and a system for recovering and fully recycling the product has been identified;
• Manufacturing maximizes the use of current solar income and water quality; and
• Workplace and business practices are ethical and support employees.

For more information, visit www.c2ccertified.com.