The Cradle-to-Cradle concept
Linear model
Currently the vast majority of human processes, most notably the continued combustion of finite fossil fuels which produces harmful waste products, represent a linear, 'cradle-to-grave' model.
The process continues to run until:
Closed-loop model
The cradle-to-cradle concept takes the waste products and uses those as fuel or provision for the next stage in the cycle, with energy source paths tracing eventually back to solar energy as the primary producer.
Currently the vast majority of human processes, most notably the continued combustion of finite fossil fuels which produces harmful waste products, represent a linear, 'cradle-to-grave' model.
The process continues to run until:
- The resource is spent, or
- The waste products become prohibitively harmful
Closed-loop model
The cradle-to-cradle concept takes the waste products and uses those as fuel or provision for the next stage in the cycle, with energy source paths tracing eventually back to solar energy as the primary producer.
Michael Pawlyn's criteria for the Sustainability Revolution: The most reliable long term energy source is solar irradiation.
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Click to view Graham Wiles Cardboard-to-Caviar operation illustrating the cradle-to-cradle closed loop concept.
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(Slides taken from Michael Pawlyn's talk on TED.com)
