What’s the difference between cradle to grave and cradle to cradle lifecycle models?
Understanding the difference between these two practices is crucial for construction professionals aiming to minimise the environmental footprint of their projects.
Key topics covered:
- Product lifecycles.
- Cradle to Grave.
- Limitations of Cradle to Grave
- Cradle to Cradle
- Methods of achieving Cradle to Cradle
When assessing the environmental impact of products, different lifecycle models are applied based on the intended scope and depth of the analysis.
The different stages a product goes through are:
1. Raw Material Extraction “cradle”
2. Manufacturing & Processing
3. Transportation
4. Usage & Retail
5. Waste Disposal “grave”
The Cradle-to-Grave lifecycle includes all 5 life stages during assessment. Whereas, Cradle-to-Cradle takes this model one stage further by exchanging the waste stage with recycling.
Let’s take a look at these two principles in more depth:
Cradle-to-Grave
Cradle to Grave refers to a linear approach that considers the environmental impact of product from the extraction of raw materials (cradle) to its demolition and disposal (grave). It emphasises minimising waste and pollution throughout the project lifecycle by promoting the use of materials with lower embodied carbon and environmental impact and designing buildings with greater energy efficiency.
The limitations of this approach are that it primarily addresses end-of-life waste through recycling or disposal, often overlooking the potential for deconstruction and material reuse. It also accepts demolition waste as an inevitable outcome, rather than designing buildings for material recovery and reuse.
Cradle-to-Cradle
In contrast, Cradle to Cradle promotes a circular approach, aiming to eliminate waste by designing buildings and using materials that can be continually reused, recycled, or safely returned to the environment.
Methods of achieving Cradle to Cradle are using modular construction techniques for easy disassembly and relocation, specifying bio-based materials that are compostable or biodegradable and designing buildings with adaptable spaces that can be easily reconfigured to meet changing needs.
In conclusion, both Cradle to Grave and Cradle to Cradle are valuable approaches to sustainability in construction and aim to create a positive impact on the environment. Their main difference is that Cradle to Grave seeks to minimise disruption, while Cradle to Cradle offers a vision for a more sustainable, circular economy where resources are continuously cycled.