In: Economics
Explain the difference between ‘cradle to grave’ and ‘cradle to cradle’ design, and describe a process by which a service or product could become circular. In other words, how can we look at waste differently, or create products that don’t produce negative externalities? Can you provide examples of companies that have successfully transitioned to a cradle to cradle process?
Difference between cradle to grave and cradle to cradle design:
Cradle to grave Vs cradle to cradle
This is a new emerged thinking that holds that there are some
products which do not only give value during their use or
consumption but also have a significant amount of value during
their entire life.
It is a new thinking process also known by the name " life cycle
thinking " which tends to see the impact of the product during its
life of use or disposal.
This concept tries to explain the whole process of the product
right from its existence to its disposal , i.e how product begins
to emerge with the raw materials and other components , to the time
it is used or consumed , and finally to the moment when it is ready
to be disposed off , thus given the name cradle to grave.
Cradle to grave design of producing products resulted in an
efficient way to improve the product performance and
decrease the costs incurred. It encourages green cleaning resulting
in reduction in concentration of products and thus helps to reduce
toxicity , harmful emissions resulting in waste control.
It considers waste of product as food for new products. However it
is only possible when the waste or disposed material is not
contaminated otherwise resulting in down cycling and not using in
high value product.
On the other corner , the Cradle to cradle design tend to
incorporate the concept of designing products or components in such
a way that at the end of their useful life when they have provided
all their value or benefits they need to be capable enough to turn
into new products and again serve a value , if not greater but at
least equal.
This can be done by taking the sold products back.
The main concern of this cradle to cradle concept is to make the
products with the components that can be taken back easily and can
be thus reused , through processing of equal or greater value e.g
plastic bags. Within the cleaning industry the cradle to cradle
design is still emerging but is considered powerful if consistently
looked upon and can be considered as an important step in the
cleaning movement
The process that can be used to make a good or a service circular :
Redesigning the business models
It is high time , the renewable resources are already exploited
excessively and if the business will not think about it then soon
will we runs out from all necessary resources important for
survival. The foremost thing that a business can adopt is to
rethink and redesign its business model. By redesigning the
business model i mean changing the processes or ways of producing
products, finding alternatives of what can be used in a product,
utilizing the full capacity, and using methods that ensure waste
control. Redesigning the business model will change the goals of
objectives of business, like previously the goal for instance was
output maximization and now the goal will be recycling old
products.
Digitalize supply chain and production
The another most effective process to introduce circular
products producing economy is to digitalize the operations of
business to ensure efficient control over stocks, ordering process,
consumption of raw materials and using this knowledge for future
reference. The manufacturing process and distribution of products
should also be digitalized to produce products within budget in
most economical way so that the employees do not consume raw
materials used in making product extravagantly. It will also enable
to adopt environmental friendly process and preserve planet.
The various new strategies like Supply chain logistics should be
introduced and Enterprise resource planning can also prove
beneficial.
Changing " Recycling means old " Mindset :
The another important process is to encourage customers to send
back the disposed products for recycling and consider recycling as
a means to save environment and resources. Their mindset regarding
recycled products are made from old waste should be renovated into
recycling will save them from future disaster. They should feel
good while reusing the old products.
Example
Since cradle to cradle is an emerging and newly introduced concept
, you won't find them yet adopted by giants as it requires lot of
restructuring. How ever an Onion farm out there in california USA
has introduced this concept in their functioning and business
operations , i.e they they have found an incredible way of turning
their waste into energy.
The another example is that of paris where a popular wholesaler
giant avoids sending the waste to landfills and rather uses them in
fueling their own operations.
Hope i explained well.
Good luck and God bless.
Sorry for any typing mistake
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