To assist companies in (re)designing eco-effective products, MBDC uses the Cradle to Cradle Design Protocol to assess materials used in products and production processes. The Protocol is founded on the "Intelligent Products System" developed by Michael Braungart and his colleagues at EPEA.

In applying the Protocol, materials in products are first inventoried and then evaluated according to their characteristics within the desired application, and placed into one of four categories (Green, Yellow, Orange, or Red) based on human health and environmental relevance criteria. After all chemicals are assessed, the materials in a product application are optimized by positively selecting replacements for chemicals characterized as Red and using Green chemicals as they are available.

The four categories are:

	Green Little or no risk. This chemical is acceptable for use in the desired application.
	Yellow Low to moderate risk. This chemical is acceptable for use in the desired application until a green alternative is found.
	Orange There is no indication that this is a high risk chemical for the desired application, but a complete assessment is not possible due to lack of information.
	Red High risk. 'Red' chemicals (also sometimes referred to as 'X-list' chemicals) should be phased out as soon as possible. 'Red' chemicals include all known or suspected carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, mutagens, reproductive toxins, and teratogens. In addition, chemicals that do not meet other human health or environmental relevance criteria are 'red' chemicals.

Human health and environmental relevance criteria used to rank chemicals are listed below.