Cradle to Cradle^® Certification is a multi-attribute eco-label that assesses a product’s safety to humans and the environment and design for future life cycles. The program provides guidelines to help businesses implement the Cradle to Cradle framework, which focuses on using safe materials that can be disassembled and recycled as technical nutrients or composted as biological nutrients. Unlike single-attribute eco-labels, MBDC’s certification program takes a comprehensive approach to  evaluating the sustainability of a product and the practices employed in manufacturing the product. The materials and manufacturing practices of each product are assessed in five categories: Material Health, Material Reutilization, Renewable Energy Use, Water Stewardship, and Social Responsibility. Click here for complete description of Certification Criteria .

Eligibility

Products or materials from any industry that are sold to consumers or other businesses are eligible for certification. Certification criteria are the same for all product

types. Cradle to Cradle® Certification does not apply to people, businesses, buildings, or processes. Click here for information on the Application Process 

Consumers can rely on the certification mark to identify and specify sustainable products for their homes, businesses, and buildings. Click here for the current list of Cradle to Cradle Certified^CM Products.

Levels of Achievement

The Cradle to Cradle framework has outlined a vision to guide product design and manufacturing, and the certification program recognizes varying levels of achievement towards that goal.

There are four levels of product certification: Basic, Silver, Gold, Platinum. In order to be certified at a certain level, a product must meet the minimum criteria for that level in all five criteria categories: Material Health, Material Reutilization, Renewable Energy Use, Water Stewardship, and Social Responsibility.

General Description of Certification Levels:

BASIC

• All chemicals in product identified down to 100ppm level (0.01%)

• No PVC, chloroprene, or related chemical at any concentration

• All materials and chemicals assessed for toxicity to human and environmental health

• Strategy developed to optimize all remaining problematic chemicals

• All materials defined as technical nutrients to be recycled or biological nutrients to be composted

SILVER

• All requirements met at BASIC level

• Halogenated hydrocarbon content <100ppm

• Toxic heavy metal content (Pb, Hg, Cd, Cr+6)< 100ppm

• Material Reutilization score >=50

• Quantify the energy required for manufacturing (final assembly)

• Characterize energy sources and develop strategy for including renewable energy

• Adopt company wide water stewardship principles or guidelines

GOLD

• All requirements met at BASIC and SILVER levels

• NO problematic chemicals (assessed by MBDC as RED) in product

• Plan for product recovery and closing the loop

• Material Reutilization score >=65

• Use renewable energy for 50% of manufacturing (final assembly)

• Complete an audit to characterize and quantify water use

• Complete an audit of corporate social responsibility practices

PLATINUM

• All requirements met at BASIC, SILVER & GOLD levels

• Actively recovering products and closing the loop

• Material Reutilization score >=80

• Use renewable energy for 100% of manufacturing (final assembly) and 50% of supply chain manufacturing

• Implemented innovative measures to improve water conservation and water quality

• Complete a third party social responsibility certification