C2C Certified Circularity: Transforming product design for a sustainable future

The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute introduces C2C Certified Circularity, a new certification aimed at sustainable product design and manufacturing. This initiative gives businesses of all sizes the opportunity to intentionally create products for the circular economy, optimizing sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, waste, and pollution. The certification market is getting crowded with initiative from EcoVadis (much broader) and TCO already in place.

Intentional design for a circular economy

Rooted in the updated Cradle to Cradle Certified® Version 4.1 standard, C2C Certified® Circularity offers a comprehensive framework for circular product development. It covers all aspects from design and sourcing to packaging and material health, ensuring companies achieve measurable goals. With third-party verification, this certification provides businesses with a trusted method to showcase their progress in the circular economy and stay ahead of evolving regulations.

Elwyn Grainger-Jones, Executive Director at the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, underscores the certification's significance: “As we surpass critical planetary boundaries, circularity in product design is more urgent than ever. C2C Certified Circularity will support companies in creating thousands more verified circular products for consumers."

Core focus: product circularity

The C2C Certified Circularity requirements are organized around three areas: circular sourcing, circular design, and circular systems. This approach ensures products are designed for longevity, with reuse and recycling integrated into their lifecycle, thereby decoupling value creation from carbon emissions and turning waste into valuable resources.

William McDonough, Co-founder of the Institute, remarks: “This certification is an extension of our 20-year legacy, emphasizing the importance of regenerative practices to design products as perpetual, clean assets for future generations.”

Meeting EU and US regulatory demands

C2C Certified Circularity goes beyond current regulations like the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) by addressing waste at its origin. It supports companies in generating third-party verified Circularity Data Reports, aligning with the Digital Product Passport (DPP) requirements. In the US, it assists in meeting state-level standards, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies and recycling regulations.

Accessible pathway for businesses of all sizes

C2C Certified Circularity offers companies, from startups to multinationals, an accessible route to develop and verify circular products. This initiative encourages businesses to align on best practices, reduce waste, optimize resources, and foster circular innovation, with the aim to double global circularity by 2032.