Abstract
This chapter explores the strategic implementation of the cradle-to-cradle concept and suggests backcasting using sustainability principles as a systematic way to support decision-makers. The cradle to cradle concept seeks to learn from nature and to design using principles that emphasize the conversion of waste into food, the use of solar energy inputs, and the celebration of diversity. As such, it facilitates organizational transition toward enabling a societal infrastructure by participating in cyclical supply chains – a valuable complement to the green supply chain approach to organizational collaboration for sustainability. The specific contribution of this chapter to the cradle-to-cradle literature focuses on the integration of cradle-to-cradle design within a systems approach that permits analysis from a strategic sustainable development perspective. After usefully comparing cradle-to-cradle design principles with FSSD principles for sustainability, the authors integrate science-based principles with value-based principles as an asset to support backcasting using overarching sustainability constraints drawn from scientific principles for socio-economic sustainability. This framework is one that decision-makers can use flexibly to make mid-course corrections in the march toward a societal infrastructure that supports a targeted system in which all material flows are either part of a biological or a technical metabolism.
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Notes
- 1.
This framework is published in many books, case studies and peer-reviewed journals within the field. It is often known amongst business leaders and policy-makers as The Natural Step Framework after the international non-profit organization that helped initiate its development and which continues to promote the strategic sustainable development approach.
- 2.
Such as Natural Capitalism, Factor X, Ecological Footprinting, Life Cycle Assessment and Sustainable Technology Development.
- 3.
Whistler was awarded the “best long term planning” award at the 2005 United Nations Liveable Communities Awards in LaCarna, Spain.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the support of our advisors, HenrikNy and Pong Leung, classmates, the Master’s in Strategic Leadership toward Sustainability (MSLS) program team, Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt and all our interviewees, both while visiting the Netherlands, in person and through conference calls.
A special remark goes to the cooperation of Enviu – Innovators in sustainability! represented by the enthusiastic support of Wouter Kersten. We would finally like to thank representatives from the Province of Limburg, especially for the energy of Frederieke Vriends and the commitment of Paul Levels and Joey Clark.
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van der Pluijm, F., Miller, K.M., Cuginotti, A. (2010). Backcasting Using Principles for Implementing Cradle-to-Cradle. In: Sarkis, J., Cordeiro, J., Vazquez Brust, D. (eds) Facilitating Sustainable Innovation through Collaboration. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3159-4_11
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