Loose Ends
Highlighting and addressing the short comings of the closed loop philosophy and product assessment system ‘Cradle to Cradle’ in search of sustainable, steady state, closed loop construction
de Alex Whitcroft
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It is now widely accepted that we are not currently sustainable, as a species, and we are not becoming sustainable at any great rate.
The systems in place to encourage greater sustainability are failing because they: 1. are too weak and favour the industrial lobby, 2. address narrow targets without looking at wider more fundamental problems and 3. are publicised as solutions when they are far from it, which delays further progress and saps public interest.
The idea of lean management has been round for centuries and has little, if anything to do with sustainability. However, the idea of lean, clean management is a relatively recent development, which follows the same basic principles, but adds that you can also be more ecologically sustainable, whilst cutting corners and costs. ‘Cradle to Cradle’, ‘carbon cap and trade’ and other similar systems present further steps in the chain. However, they all still share one overarching assumption: that the commercial market, and the stakeholders within it, can solve the problems that cause our species to be a threat to ourselves and to the ecosystems of this planet.
The primary reasons for our un-sustainability are resource depletion (for materials and energy) and chemical and material pollution.
MBDC’s vision, ‘Cradle to Cradle’ (C2C), proposes a ‘solution’ to both resource depletion and pollution. Firstly it sets out a system that requires no virgin material to be added to it, by engineering products that are 100% recyclable by industry and/or biodegradable in nature – aiming to eliminate resource depletion. Secondly these products and processes are all assessed and engineered to produce no harmful waste or by-products – thereby eliminating pollution.
However, both parts of their argument seem make some major assumptions. This work attempts to ascertain whether these apparent assumptions are honest, understandable and valid, or whether they are indications of flaws and shortcomings in the ‘Cradle to Cradle’ theory.
Closed loop is a much needed and progressive leap in industrial thinking, but it is not a solution in its own right. Without ties to other areas it risks becoming a balloon squeezing exercise, solving only certain problems, whilst exacerbating others.
The systems in place to encourage greater sustainability are failing because they: 1. are too weak and favour the industrial lobby, 2. address narrow targets without looking at wider more fundamental problems and 3. are publicised as solutions when they are far from it, which delays further progress and saps public interest.
The idea of lean management has been round for centuries and has little, if anything to do with sustainability. However, the idea of lean, clean management is a relatively recent development, which follows the same basic principles, but adds that you can also be more ecologically sustainable, whilst cutting corners and costs. ‘Cradle to Cradle’, ‘carbon cap and trade’ and other similar systems present further steps in the chain. However, they all still share one overarching assumption: that the commercial market, and the stakeholders within it, can solve the problems that cause our species to be a threat to ourselves and to the ecosystems of this planet.
The primary reasons for our un-sustainability are resource depletion (for materials and energy) and chemical and material pollution.
MBDC’s vision, ‘Cradle to Cradle’ (C2C), proposes a ‘solution’ to both resource depletion and pollution. Firstly it sets out a system that requires no virgin material to be added to it, by engineering products that are 100% recyclable by industry and/or biodegradable in nature – aiming to eliminate resource depletion. Secondly these products and processes are all assessed and engineered to produce no harmful waste or by-products – thereby eliminating pollution.
However, both parts of their argument seem make some major assumptions. This work attempts to ascertain whether these apparent assumptions are honest, understandable and valid, or whether they are indications of flaws and shortcomings in the ‘Cradle to Cradle’ theory.
Closed loop is a much needed and progressive leap in industrial thinking, but it is not a solution in its own right. Without ties to other areas it risks becoming a balloon squeezing exercise, solving only certain problems, whilst exacerbating others.
Características y detalles
- Categoría principal: Arquitectura
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Características: 13×20 cm
N.º de páginas: 166 - Fecha de publicación: ene. 05, 2010
- Palabras clave cradle to cradle, closed loop, architecture, sustainability
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