C2C’s New Tool Goes All in On Circularity

In an effort to reshape design with the circular economy in mind, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII) dropped a new, supportive tool for compliance.

The nonprofit organization’s latest certification, dubbed C2C Certified Circularity, focuses on product circularity and offers measurable goals to guide all aspects of circular product development. The platform is built off the recently updated Cradle to Cradle Certified Version 4.1 standard—the “most ambitious and actional global standard yet” for developing circular goods—to offer measurable goals in guiding all aspects of circular product development.

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Backed by “rigorous” third-party verification, the certification lets companies (both big and small) “confidently communicate” their efforts toward “circular economy leadership.” Essentially, the tool should help brands hit—and exceed—the “evolving regulatory standards” while cultivating circular design efforts.

“Building on the success and network of Cradle to Cradle Certified, this new certification will help companies create thousands more verified circular products that consumers can trust,” said Elwyn Grainger-Jones, executive director at the C2CPII. “As we continue to exceed critical planetary boundaries, the need for circularity in product design is more urgent than ever.”

The requirements for C2C Certified Circularity focus on product circularity—one of the C2C Certified’s five frameworks. That focus is structured around all things circular: sourcing, design and systems. The resulting “comprehensive approach” ensures that products are intentionally designed for their subsequent use and are actively and appropriately cycled, ultimately turning “waste into resources.”

“Expanding our portfolio with C2C Certified Circularity is an excellent development in the 20-year legacy of the program, to further drive the shift toward safe, sustainable and circular production practices,” said William McDonough, co-founder of the C2CPII. “This new certification reinforces the vital importance of circularity and regenerative practices to innovate into a world where products are designed for use and next use as perpetual, clean assets for future generations.”

A topline component of C2C Certified Circularity certification is its ability to help companies stay ahead of existing and upcoming regulations and reporting requirements.

The platform “goes above and beyond” the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) baseline requirements, as the tool “tackles the problem of waste at the source.” In doing so, it generates third-party verified “circularity data reports” for companies to share their achievements “with confidence.” Or, more appropriately, secure digital product passports (DPP). For stateside players, the tool helps companies “meet growing state-level requirements to reduce waste,” as laid out in extended producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks.

“Establishing a global product circularity standard across sectors is vital; it sets the stage for brands and manufacturers to align on best practices that minimize waste, optimize resource use and foster circular design innovation,” said Hilde van Duijn, managing director of Circle Economy Foundation. “Together, we can step-by-step transform industries into sustainable ecosystems that respect our planet and communities, avoid climate breakdown and help double global circularity by 2032.”