As is thoroughly evidenced in Cradle to Cradle, the Industrial Revolution spawned a poorly planned, unsustainable industrial infrastructure that is extremely damaging to both our environment and the future of life on Earth. I believe it is extremely urgent that we re-design our hulking, gray, industrial infrastructure to be more sustainable and to produce more nature friendly products and processes. Design should be holding environment's hand, not kicking it in the balls over and over and over again. It seems that the key is to, instead of attempting to separate ourselves from nature, embrace our place in nature and follow a "cradle-to-cradle" manufacturing model, or as Elton John so eloquently belted out: "But all are agreed as they join the stampede/You should never take more than you give/In the CIIIIIIIIRCLE OF LIIIIIIIIFE". The bad design of the past is killing our world, and hopefully we can save it with good design in the future.
Amagerforbrændingen Waste Treatment Plant
Although not entirely perfect, this design for a Danish waste treatment plant follows many of Cradle to Cradle's design principles. While a waste treatment plant wouldn't normally seem like a cool place to hang out, this plant won't only convert waste to energy, it will also function as an artificial ski slope. In order to make the implications of consumption a little more tangible, CO2 is released from this plant's smokestack in one ton increments, in the form of giant smoke rings. This new plant will be 20 percent more efficient and contribute to an annual CO2-reduction of 50 to 60 thousand metric tons. Although this may still fall under the category of "doing less bad" the momentum of our current industrial paradigm is too great to be reversed in one fell swoop, it must be slowed down first.
Biomimicry Institute
Although the word is not printed once in Cradle to Cradle, McDonough and Braungart's ideas have much in common with biomimicry, the idea that sustainable solutions to human's problems can be discovered by examining nature. The Biomimicry Institute is an organization that seeks to advance the field of biomimicry. Their website offers much information on biomimicry, including case studies of biomimicry in action and children's music CDs, so you can greenwash 'em while they're young.
Green Guru Gone Wrong: William McDonough
After initially reading Cradle to Cradle, I envisioned William McDonough as some sort of eco-friendly designer Jesus, but this article has given me a much more balanced view of him. This article also ties in the themes of RiP!: A Remix Manifesto, as it reveals how McDonough's desire to monetize his concepts has made him unwilling to relinquish control of his ideas, which prevents Cradle to Cradle design from being implemented on a larger level.
Trash into Art
Skateboarding is not the most environmentally-friendly activity, as avid skateboarders will go through decks quickly, resulting in a lot of waste. However, Japanese artist Haroshi is breathing new life into skateboards, creating beautiful sculptures from refuse.
GreenSource
GreenSoruce is a magazine that focuses on enviromentally-friendly design. Their website offers much info on the area, including news, current projects, and green product reviews.
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