Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute Makes Finding Healthier Products Easier

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute has announced significant milestones in 2014 following its largest year since the non-profit launched in 2010. Three new board members and 10 international assessors have joined the movement, in addition to a new Product Registry that increases transparency and usability.

Cradle to Cradle certification promotes healthier building products, in addition to consumer products from carpets to shampoo. method^® has over 60 products Cradle to Cradle Certified^TM across its hand wash, cleaning and laundry products. Aveda is another Cradle to Cradle leader with long-term commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

The newly released Cradle to Cradle Certified^TM Product Registry allows consumers, designers and builders to make wiser, healthier decisions and calls for greater transparency from the manufacturer. Other features include improved overall site speed and the optional certification scorecard, which is a summary of levels achieved in the five categories of certification optimization: material health, material reutilization, renewable energy & carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness. 

Over 200 certified products are eligible for LEED v4 credit, and more than 1,000 variations can be found using the new Product Registry.

"We are encouraging our certification holders to allow us to put up their scorecard. It lets stakeholders quickly see where manufacturers have done the hard work of continuously improving their product," said Bridgett Luther, President of the Institute. "Our certification is unique in encouraging companies to improve their product's ingredients and processes. The multi-attribute nature of our certification becomes a powerful way to show a company's commitment to making the world a better place for people and planet."

The Institute has also increased its international presence with new accredited assessment bodies and three new board members. This year, Board Chair Warner Philips welcomed trustees Gerrit Bruggeman, Marion Hunt and Scott Mackinlay Hahn. Ten new accredited assessment bodies have joined the Cradle to Cradle network from around the world including Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

"With additional accredited assessors, we have an exceptionally strong presence in the EU under the leadership Roy Vercoulen, Vice President of European Operations. We also added the head of our European Advisory Council, Gerrit Bruggeman to the Institute board to strengthen our expansion," said Luther.

Bruggeman is Managing Partner of Real Time Branding B.V. and brings extensive international experience as CEO, board member and board room advisor across many industries, most notably in retail, fashion and home furnishing.

New board members Hunt and Hahn bring diversified expertise to the Institute. Hunt has been a Trustee of the Roy A. Hunt Foundation for over 35 years, where she helped develop the environmental grant program as Program Officer. She has served on the boards of several notable environmental organizations. Hahn is an American fashion designer, co-founding ROGAN and Loomstate sustainable apparel brands. He currently chairs the Sustainability Steering Committee for the Council of Fashion Designer of America and serves as board member of the Council for Textile Recycling.

Other big news for the Institute:

• Since inception, thousands of products have been certified from 188 companies, including the 385 product lines certified or re-certified in 2013;
• Planning has begun for 2014 Innovation Celebration honoring companies who have contributed significantly in enhancing and improving health and impact through their products;
• 2013 Innovation Stories published: A compilation of 60 extraordinary companies acting as sustainability superstars, with case studies on the discovery process and best practices with their certified products.

About the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is to turn the making of things into a positive force for people, the economy, and the planet. They steward the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Program, which is a system for assessing and constantly improving products based upon five categories: material health, material reuse, renewable energy, water stewardship, and social fairness. The Institute is headquartered in San Francisco, California with satellite offices in Amsterdam, NL, Venlo, NL and Raleigh, NC.

SOURCE Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute