More than Recycling: The Cradle to Cradle Principle

The cradle to cradle principle was developed in the 1990s by German chemist Michael Braungart and US architect William McDonough. Literally translated, it means “from cradle to cradle” – and that sums up the core idea:

Everything used is a “nutrient”. And each nutrient should remain in circulation – biological, natural substances in natural cycles, and so-called “technical nutrients” in technical cycles. Both are intended to serve as the basis (the cradle) for new products after their use. In this way, cradle to cradle products from the construction sector can be kept within their material cycles.

Many materials in the construction industry, such as wood, belong to the technical cycle because after use they are mainly processed into new building materials rather than returned to the biological cycle. These cradle to cradle building materials can circulate indefinitely if recovered in pure form, recycled or reused. The aim is a technical material cycle with as little loss as possible.

Examples of cradle to cradle products in construction include:
 

• Wood (untreated wood and wood-based materials)
• Clay (without chemical additives)
• Natural insulation materials (hemp, flax, cellulose)
• Metals (aluminium, copper, steel etc., provided they can be separated in pure form)
• Glass (except when combined with composite materials that are difficult to separate)
• Technical plastics with cradle to cradle certification (e.g. pure PE or PP moulded parts)
• Ceramic tiles

Pfleiderer consistently applies the cradle to cradle principle in practice by making use of reclaimed timber in combination with biogenic binders (for example, OrganicBoard) or with formaldehyde-free bonded products (such as PremiumBoard MFP Living). In this way, materials remain in the technical cradle to cradle cycle for as long as possible and make an active contribution to conserving resources.

However, timber cannot be reused indefinitely – particularly when it is no longer possible to return it in pure form due to wear or contamination with other substances. At this stage, thermal recovery comes into play: Pfleiderer uses such reclaimed timber to generate energy for its own production. The result is a fully circular system in which even the electricity needed for producing wood-based materials comes from timber residues that can no longer be materially recycled – a closed cycle entirely in line with the cradle to cradle principle.

Reading tip: Learn more about sustainable building. At Pfleiderer you’ll find practical guidelines, ecological building materials and real-life cradle to cradle examples.

According to Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V., the construction sector consumes “90 percent of all mineral raw materials while generating more than half of total waste.” A rethink is urgently needed if climate goals are to be met. The cradle to cradle concept is designed to bring about this fundamental shift: moving away from the linear “take–make–waste” logic towards circular, life-cycle-oriented construction where resources are preserved, harmful substances avoided, and materials kept in continuous use.

The advantages of cradle to cradle in this context are many:

• Closed material cycles instead of waste generation
• Healthy living environments without toxic substances
• Easy disassembly at the end of life
• Long-term economic benefits through innovation in product development
• A strong contribution to the decarbonisation of the construction sector

For Pfleiderer, protecting nature has the highest priority. A high recycling rate and the consistent use of reclaimed timber have been standard practice for many years – just as sustainable forestry and the careful use of all resources. Now, selected products have been awarded cradle to cradle certification under the official Cradle to Cradle™ Products Program. This represents a new level of sustainability, and we are very proud of this achievement!