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The Cradle to Cradle
Protocol
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.
HUMAN-HEALTH CRITERIA
- Carcinogenicity
- Teratogenicity
- Reproductive Toxicity
- Mutagenicity
- Endocrine Disruption
- Acute Toxicity
- Chronic Toxicity
- Irritation of Skin/Mucous Membranes
- Sensitization
- Carrier Function or Other Relevant Data
ENVIRONMENTAL-RELEVANCE
CRITERIA
- Algae Toxicity
- Bioaccumulation (log Kow)
- Climatic Relevance/Ozone Depletion Potential
- Content of Halogenated Organic Compounds
(AOX)
- Daphnia Toxicity
- Fish Toxicity
- Heavy Metal Content
- Persistence/Biodegradation
- Toxicity to Soil Organisms (Bacteria
and Worms)
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