Book Review: Cradle to Cradle

I ran across this book referenced in a recent Lipscomb alumni news and my interest was piqued enough to run out and purchase it. My first choice was to borrow it from the library, but they didn't have it, so . . . now I do.

Cradle to Cradle was published back in 2002 and is calls for a paradigmatic shift in the manufacturing industry. I have to admit, at times the book is a little fatalistic in it's perspective of the burgeoning industrialization of our world. Written by an architect and a chemist, they offer unique and important insights into our culture's newfound desire to be "green."

While the topic of discussion (environmentalism, industry, and commerce) fall far from my field of emphasis, it seems clear that this work has the potential to be paradigm-shaking. The first chapter left me cheering, encouraged by their critique of the Industrial Revolution. "The Industrial Revolution was not planned, but it was not without motive. At bottom it was an economic revolution driven by the desire for the acquisition of capital." (p. 21) And that desire for capital, to do more cheaper and faster has led us to the current global crisis that we face (and focus on this being Earth Week) in pollution, deforestation, energy crises, and on and on the list could go.

The authors lay out what they call the "cradle to grave" philosophy that has dominated the thinking of the Industrial Age. Widgets are manufactured with a certain purpose in mind, they fulfill that purpose, and then they are thrown away. I was all over this discussion and felt as though my attempts to recycle, compost, and do as much as possible to keep our waste to a minimum fit nicely into their paradigm.

Then I read chapter 2 and realized the breadth of the problem. Chapter 2 is entitled, "Why Being 'Less Bad' is No Good." In this chapter, the authors critique the approaches many have taken to recycling as a cure to the aforementioned problems. While we may look at our attempts at recycling as better than the the previous attempts which ignored the problem altogether, McDonogh and Braungart believe this to be no more than a band aid to a deeper and more significant problem. There's still a grave in sight for each product, we're still using finite natural resources, there's still an end in sight. Recycling as is currently practiced is actually down-cycling. The problem, according to the authors, comes at the design stage. Instead of dealing with the issue at the end of the life of a product, manufacturers need to begin at the design phase to begin to turn the ship in the right direction.

The authors bring the bar where it needs to be: "The goal is zero: zero waste, zero emissions, zero 'ecological footprint.' As long as human beings are regarded as 'bad,' zero is a good goal. But to be less bad is to accept things as they are, to believe that poorly designed, dishonorable, destructive systems are the best humans can do. This is the ultimate failure of the 'be less bad' approach: a failure of the imagination. From our perspective, this is a depressing vision of our species' role in the world." (p. 67).

They go on to propose the idea of 'eco-effectiveness.' Their proposal is creative, out-of-the-box, and optimistic. They move beyond the current paradigm that assumes waste as a natural by-product of manufacturing, and propose the idea of "waste equals food." Rather than producing toxic emissions and by-products, what if the by-products were proactive. They offer a great analogy of the cherry tree. It produces greatly more than it needs (picture the ground littered with buds and flowers) just for hopes of creating one more tree. However, the waste is not toxic, instead it contributes to the ecosystem. It is a necessary part of the cycle. Human beings, as part of this system, we should strive to contribute to nature as the rest of creation does.

Drawing lessons from the cherry tree, from ants, and other naturally occurring specimens, the authors believe we can learn from their process and overcome the current process. What would the world look like if the human processes followed the natural processes? "We believe that industry can be so safe, effective, enriching and intelligent that it need not be fenced of from other human activity." (p. 87) Can you imagine property values next door to factories escalating as their by-products are seen as assets to the neighborhood? This is the kind of "out-there" goals we need to begin to work towards.

"To eliminate the concept of waste means to design things - products, packaging, and systems - from the very beginning on the understanding that waste does not exist." - (p. 104) The very pages the book is written on go towards their cradle to cradle concept. The book comes written on a soft, durable and water-proof polymer that can be recycled. It is not the ideal, as they go on to note a few shortcomings, but it is a stride in the right direction.

There is much to be admired in the work of these two authors. For the ordinary, average consumer (I'll put myself there), it can be a little daunting as you just begin to consider how big this issue is - just how much you consume, and just how little has been thought about its post-consumption life.

I found myself encouraged and saw important parallels for my faith and my ministry in faith to others. Christians need to capture the imagination seen in this book and work towards incredible things in all areas of vocation as we seek to live out our calling to take care of and tend creation. While these two authors don't appear to be Christians, their work is admirable by those of us who are and should inspire all of us to rethink the way we live our lives every day in consideration of those who will come long after us.