Urbanstrong’s Cradle-to-Cradle Exterior Living Walls
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PSA: Our preferred exterior living wall system recently was awarded bronze certification for the Cradle-to-Cradle program. For those who are unfamiliar with the Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C); it is an internationally recognized certification that awards raw materials and innovative products for their ability to be upcycled or reused. It is sustainability in its truest form- but let’s start from the beginning.
What is Cradle-to-Cradle and Why Does It Matter?
C2C is a design philosophy thought up by architect William Mcdonough and chemist Michael Braungart. This design can be seen as an engine for product innovation, emphasizing environmental impact, social responsibility, and health; all with the goal to reduce waste and promote a more circular economy.
What are the 3 principles of Cradle-to-Cradle design?
In ‘Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things’, the book puts forth the below 3 design principles, all derived from nature.
Everything is a resource for something else:
Everything can be designed to be disassembled and safely returned to the soil as biological nutrients, or re-utilized as high-quality materials for new products as technical nutrients without contamination.
Use clean and renewable energy:
Living things thrive on the energy of current solar income. Similarly, human constructs can utilize clean and renewable energy in many forms—such as solar, wind, geothermal, gravitational energy, and other energy systems being developed today—thereby capitalizing on these abundant resources while supporting human and environmental health.
Celebrate diversity:
Around the world, geology, hydrology, photosynthesis, and nutrient cycling, adapted to locale, yield an astonishing diversity of natural and cultural life. Designs that respond to the challenges and opportunities offered by each place fit elegantly and effectively into their own niches.
How Does Urbanstrong's Living Wall System Meet Cradle-to-Cradle Certification?
Our exterior living wall manufacturer has achieved the necessary five requirements to obtain the bronze certificate. These requirements are listed below:
Material Health
Material Reutilization
Renewable Energy & Carbon Management
Water Stewardship
Social Fairness
Why Choose a Cradle-to-Cradle Certified Living Wall System?
What advantages come with C2C certification?
Working with a C2C-certified system means:
A competitive edge in the green building industry
Easier accumulation of LEED and BREEAM credits
Alignment with corporate sustainability and ESG goals
Long-term value through material health and circularity
Lastly, as companies’ missions and ethos continue to center around sustainable practice, a C2C product will only further bolster branding.
About The Author
Lily Turner is a biophilic designer, project manager, and living wall design-build specialist with extensive experience across the United States. She brings a unique perspective on integrating social, environmental, and economic values into living architecture to create greener, more sustainable urban cities.
Lily collaborates closely with architects, designers, and contractors to deliver tailored living wall solutions that align with budget, design goals, and project scale. She is also the Chair of the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities’ Living Wall Committee and an active member of the Green Plants for Green Buildings Committee, advocating for innovative green infrastructure in the built environment.
