http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle-to-cradle_design
Cradle-to-cradle design (sometimes abbreviated to C2C, or cradle 2 cradle, or in some circles referred to as regenerative) is a biomimetic approach to the design of systems. It models human industry on nature's processes in which materials are viewed as nutrients circulating in healthy, safe metabolisms. It suggests that industry must protect and enrich ecosystems and nature's biological metabolism while also maintaining safe, productive technical metabolism for the high-quality use and circulation of organic and synthetic[clarification needed] materials. Put simply, it is a holistic economic, industrial and social framework that seeks to create systems that are not just efficient but essentially waste free. The model in its broadest sense is not limited to industrial design and manufacturing; it can be applied to many different aspects of human civilization such as urban environments, buildings, economics and social systems.
The phrase "Cradle-to-cradle" is essentially a play on the "Cradle to Grave" phrase, implying that the C2C model is sustainable and considerate of life in general.
The term 'C2C Certification' is a protected term of the McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) consultants. It is a proprietary system of certification.
There are 4 different certification levels: Basic, Silver, Gold, & Platinum.
From c2ccertified.orghttp://c2ccertified.org/index.php
Cradle to Cradle® Certification is a multi-attribute quality mark that assesses a product's safety to humans and the environment and design for future life cycles.
The program provides guidelines to help businesses implement the Cradle to Cradle framework, which focuses on using safe materials that can be disassembled and recycled as technical nutrients or composted and absorbed as biological nutrients. Unlike single attribute eco-labels, our program takes a comprehensive approach to evaluating the sustainability of a product and the practices employed in manufacturing the product.
For more information visit Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute: http://c2ccertified.org/index.php/product_certification/program_details
Also, visit the MBDC/Cradle to Cradle Website:http://mbdc.com/how-to-get-your-product-cradle-to-cradle-certified/