William McDonough

"Reduce, reuse, recycle," urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. But as architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart point out in this provocative, visionary book, such an approach only perpetuates the one-way, "cradle to grave" manufacturing model, dating to the Industrial Revolution, that creates such fantastic amounts of waste and pollution in the first place. Why not challenge the belief that human industry must damage the natural world? In fact, why not take nature itself as our model for making things? A tree produces thousands of blossoms in order to create another tree, yet we consider its abundance not wasteful but safe, beautiful, and highly effective.Waste equals food. Guided by this principle, McDonough and Braungart explain how products can be designed from the outset so that, after their useful lives, they will provide nourishment for something new. They can be conceived as "biological nutrients" that will easily reenter the water or soil without depositing synthetic materials and toxins. Or they can be "technical nutrients" that will continually circulate as pure and valuable materials within closed-loop industrial cycles, rather than being "recycled" -- really, downcycled -- into low-grade materials and uses. Drawing on their experience in (re)designing everything from carpeting to corporate campuses, McDonough and Braungart make an exciting and viable case for putting eco-effectiveness into practice, and show how anyone involved with making anything can begin to do as well.

From the authors of Cradle to Cradle , we learn what's The UpcycleThe Upcycle is the eagerly awaited follow-up to Cradle to Cradle , one of the most consequential ecological manifestoes of our time. Now, drawing on the green living lessons gained from 10 years of putting the Cradle to Cradle concept into practice with businesses, governments, and ordinary people, William McDonough and Michael Braungart envision the next step in the solution to our ecological We don't just use or reuse and recycle resources with greater effectiveness, we actually improve the natural world as we live, create, and build.For McDonough and Braungart, the questions of resource scarcity and sustainability are questions of design. They are practical-minded They envision beneficial designs of products, buildings, and business practices—and they show us these ideas being put to use around the world as everyday objects like chairs, cars, and factories are being reimagined not just to sustain life on the planet but to grow it . It is an eye-opening, inspiring tour of our green future as it unfolds in front of us.The Upcycle is as ambitious as such classics as Rachel Carson's Silent Spring —but its mission is very different. McDonough and Braungart want to turn on its head our very understanding of the human role on Instead of protecting the planet from human impact, why not redesign our activity to improve the environment? We can have a beneficial, sustainable footprint. Abundance for all. The goal is within our reach.

Originally issued by the City of Hammburg, Germany, in preparation for the 1992 World's Fair, this is a basic guide to eco-friendly design and architecture , revised to eliminate references to the Fair and to expand certain sections on the light of new knowledge.

Step into the enchanting world of "Sunflower Blooms of Joy and Resilience," where the golden faces of sunflowers reflect the very essence of life's beauty. This delightful book invites you to embark on a heartwarming journey through tales of optimism, courage, and the unwavering spirit of resilience, inspired by the radiant sunflower.Within these pages, you will find stories that illuminate the human experience with the warmth of the sun. Each narrative is a petal, delicately revealing the stories of individuals who, like sunflowers, turn towards the light even in the face of adversity. Their tales are a testament to the power of hope, the strength of the human spirit, and the beauty that can bloom from life's challenges.What You'll Radiant Immerse yourself in radiant tales that explore the transformative power of positivity, kindness, and the simple joys of life, reminding us that even on cloudy days, the sunflower continues to shine.Heartfelt Experience heartfelt emotions as you journey through the ups and downs of the characters' lives, witnessing their triumphs over challenges and celebrating their moments of joy and resilience.Inspiring Meet inspiring characters, each with a unique story to tell, demonstrating the extraordinary strength that resides within ordinary individuals, and how their lives intertwine like the petals of a sunflower.Nature's Discover the profound lessons inspired by nature, as sunflowers teach us to face the sun and find beauty in every moment, offering timeless wisdom to guide us through life's twists and turns.

William McDonough is committed to helping humankind remake how we make things so as to not pollute the environment and therefore ourselves. He’s convinced that we can live a healthy and sustainable life on the planet if we start asking ourselves the right questions. In this interview, McDonough speaks about how we need to look closely at nature, where nothing is thrown away.He explains the idea of “Cradle to Cradle”, and how humans can become tools of the natural world once more. He explores the difference between a consumer and a customer, explains what is meant by accruing a “materials bank”, and proposes how we can turn sewage treatment plants into nutrient management plants.William McDonough is an anticipatory design architect. But more than that he is a philosopher for the 21st century, and is asking some of the most critical questions we should be thinking about in these challenging times. He’s the former Dean of the Architecture Department at the University of Virginia, and was named “Hero of the Planet” by Time magazine. He’s also the winner of three U.S. presidential awards including the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development. He is the author with his partner, Michael Braungart, of the book Cradle to Remaking the Way We Make Things (Farrar, Straus and Geroux 2002).