Is the Design Based on the Principle of Eco-efficiency or Eco-effectiveness?
Buildings in particular have social impacts, externally on pedestrians and neighbouring residents, and internally on users or inhabitants. Questions of a social nature could include: Will the building/product promote health and well-being, and if so, how? Is indoor air quality assured? Do the product or building’s materials risk contaminating the environment, now or in the future? Materials like nylon fibre in carpets can be recycled perpetually, providing high-quality high-tech ingredients for generations of synthetic products. The issue is not synthetic materials per se, but whether provisions have been made for their recycling. McDonough and Braungart established MBDC, a product and process design firm, in 1995. It conducts rigorous chemical analysis of products and offers Cradle to Cradle Certification of products based on five metrics: materials, nutrient (re)utilization, energy, water and social responsibility. Organizations can work with MBDC to ensure the accuracy of their prod
