The Cradle to Cradle Innovation Institute (C2CPII) has announced the winners of its 2015 Product Innovator Awards. Focusing on leaders in industries that are designing with upcycling and closed-circuit lifespans in mind, the award recognizes innovation in the practice of sustainable, circular-economy design. See the winners after the break.
Mimicking nature without using any toxic substances, the Accoya process uses acetylation to strengthen sustainably sourced, fast-growing timber. The part of the wood that bonds with water is replaced with acetyl groups (naturally occurring in more durable species of wood), a low-energy method of strengthening their materials. At the end of its product life-span, Accoya can be recycled or upcycled similarly to untreated wood. It can also be used as a clean fuel source for utilities, or be left to bio-degrade 100% over time.
Lauffenmühle offers yarns and textiles that consist of cellulosic fibers derived from "FSC Certified Wood bound with biodegradable synthetic polymers." The entirety of the product, including raw materials, ingredients, chemicals and dyes will safely biodegrade. On top of that, the company has gradually optimized environmental protection, resource conversation, waste prevention and safe biological regeneration.
Since introducing a new product range with biodegradable ingredients, using 100% renewable energy and in-house production of recycled packaging materials, Wener & Metz has been a pioneer in sustainable cleaning and sanitizing products. Today, all of its 18 green care professional products are Cradle-to-Cradle Certified Gold.
Using olive tree waste, wet-green successfully developed a tanning agent made of olive oil, olive waste water and olive pulp, a process that preserves the olive tree from which the ingredients are taken. The product is regenerative and biodegradable, but also produces leathers with good shape retention, softness, lightness and durability with a wide range of uses from clothing to furniture to automotives.
