In Series 1, we explored the origins of Cradle to Cradle® and its role in the circular economy. Now, Series 2 focuses on the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard—a globally recognized framework for designing products that are safe, circular, and responsibly made.
This guide covers:
The role of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII)
The development of the standard
The Cradle to Cradle® design philosophy
How the certification process works
The three certification pathways
The five sustainability categories and four achievement levels
Whether you're a manufacturer, sustainability consultant, or procurement professional, this overview will help you understand how C2C certification drives product innovation and environmental impact.
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What Is the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute?
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the circular economy that was founded in 2010 by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Through the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Products Program, the Institute sets the global standard for circular product design, driving the transition to a circular economy where materials and products positively impact both people and the planet.
To date, thousands of products have been certified across various categories, including building materials, textiles, apparel, footwear, cosmetics, personal care, electronics, print, and packaging. In addition, a growing number of global brands, organizations and sustainability standards recognize Cradle to Cradle Certified® (C2C Certified®) as a preferred product certification.
After completing certification, your company will be part of the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Products Program. This has been guiding leading brands, designers, retailers and manufacturers globally across the value chain, now existing of hundreds of pioneering companies from more than 40 countries. Your product will also be promoted on the product registry (Certified products - Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute)
Development of the standard
The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard Versions 4.1, 4.0, and 3.1 (4.2 upcoming) were developed by the Institute through a multi-stakeholder process informed by a diverse group of technical subject matter experts, leading manufacturers, independent assessors, and other market representatives serving on the Institute’s Standards Steering Committee, as well as its Stakeholder Advisory Council and Technical Advisory Groups. Draft standards were made available for public comment, and many stakeholders submitted comments that were considered in the development of the standard.
The certification is continuously governed by a Certification Standards Board, which updates the standard regularly to reflect scientific advancements and sustainability best practices. The current version (4.0+) includes stricter requirements, especially around circularity and climate impact.
The Cradle to Cradle® design philosophy
The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard is rooted in the Cradle to Cradle® design principles pioneered by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. These principles revolutionize product creation by transforming how products are made– ensuring materials are continuously cycled in either the biological or technical cycle. Additionally, the principles stimulate the use of healthy, non-toxic substances, harness renewable energy, and convert waste into valuable resources. They also embrace social fairness and inclusivity, shaping a future where products benefit both people and the planet.
How Certification Works
Companies work with an independent assessment body to assess and verify a product’s performance across each of the Cradle to Cradle Certified performance categories. The assessment body is an independent third-party assessor accredited by C2CPII. These experts evaluate the product against the standard’s criteria and submit a report to the Institute, which reviews and issues the certification. This model ensures credibility and transparency. C2CPII does not conduct assessments itself. Instead, it accredits Assessment Bodies like Sustenuto, which evaluate products and submit findings to the Institute.
The role of an assessor includes the following:
Collect all necessary data together with the applicant and/or manufacturer
Evaluate products against C2C criteria
Prepare assessment reports and verification of data
Submit assessment summary for Institute review
Certificates are valid for three years, after which products must be reassessed to maintain certification—ensuring ongoing improvement.
Read the full certification process here: The Process - Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
Three Certification Pathways
The Institute certifies products based on the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard (Full Scope), a holistic framework that assesses materials and products across five sustainability performance categories: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air & Climate Protection, Water & Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness.
Within this framework, products can achieve certification through three distinct scopes:
C2C Certified® Full Scope: Verifies a product’s performance across all five categories
C2C Certified® Circularity: Verifies a product’s performance specifically in the Product Circularity category, and the chemical restrictions at the Bronze level in the Material Health category
C2C Certified® Material Health: Verifies a product’s performance, specifically in the Material Health category
With multiple certification pathways, companies can target key aspects of sustainable design and manufacturing, each backed by credible, third-party verification.
Cradle to Cradle Certified® is a Type I environmental label that aligns with the principles and procedures defined in ISO 14020 and 14024. It is a voluntary, third-party certification that identifies products designed for a safe, circular, and responsible economy, recognizing achievements across multiple sustainability categories based on life cycle thinking.
To learn more about the benefits of certification and what value it can bring to your company, read more in our series 3.
1. C2C Certified® Full Scope
The full scope certification assesses products for their product design with life cycle thinking in mind, meeting strict science-based requirements, covering five different categories: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air & Climate Protection, Water & Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness.
Products are awarded a level—Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum—based on performance across all categories. This comprehensive certification is ideal for companies aiming to lead in holistic sustainability.
2. C2C Certified® Material Health:
The C2C Certified® Material Health certificate focuses solely on the Material Health category. It evaluates chemical safety and ingredient transparency. It ensures that chemicals and materials used are selected to prioritize the protection of human health and the environment. By adhering to rigorous, science-based standards, it aims to generate a positive impact on the quality of materials available for future use and cycling. This certification is commonly seen in industries like building materials and textiles and can be used as a stepping stone toward full certification.
3. C2C Certified® Circularity
The C2C Certified® Circularity certificate has been introduced in 2024, a certification that focuses on Product Circularity. Products are assessed on their design for circularity with life cycle thinking in mind. It is optimized to minimize waste, keeping materials in a continuous cycle of use. For example, it assesses product design for reuse, recycling, and take-back systems. Products must meet minimum material health safety checks to qualify. This certificate supports companies in meeting circular economy regulations like the EU Ecodesign Directive and can be used as a stepping stone toward full certification.
Achievement Levels: Bronze to Platinum
Each product is rated in all five categories. The lowest category score determines the overall certification level.
Bronze: Meets minimum requirements across all categories.
Silver: Demonstrates improved performance and responsible practices.
Gold: High sustainability performance, including safe materials and renewable energy use.
Platinum: World-class sustainability, regenerative design, and net-positive impact.
For more information and guidance on how certificate holders can make statements about category achievements, please see the Communication Guidance of the C2CPII.
For each higher level, more stringent requirements apply. The higher the achievement level, the more:
detailed the evidence needs to be (higher quality expected);
the supply chain is investigated;
procedures are controlled and monitored.
This tiered system encourages companies to improve over time. Certificates expire after three years, prompting reassessment and progress.
The Five Sustainability Categories – a holistic approach
1. Material Health
This category assesses that chemicals and materials used in the product are selected to prioritize the protection of human health and the environment, generating a positive impact on the quality of materials available for future use and cycling. This means products must avoid the use of toxic substances and optimize materials, ensuring that materials are safe for humans and the environment.
2. Product Circularity
This category assesses that products are intentionally designed for their next use and are actively cycled in their intended cycling pathways. This means it evaluates circular product design for a biological or technical cycle as also referred to in the butterfly diagram of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (The Butterfly Diagram: Visualising the Circular Economy | Ellen MacArthur Foundation). It enables companies to design products fit for the circular economy through product and process design.
3. Clean Air & Climate Protection
This category assesses that product manufacturing results in a positive impact on air quality, the renewable energy supply, and the balance of climate changing greenhouse gasses. It focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and using renewable energy. Higher levels require carbon neutrality or positivity.
4. Water & Soil Stewardship
This category assesses that water and soil are treated as precious and shared resources. It requires an assessment of whether watersheds and soil ecosystems nearby are protected, and clean water and healthy soils are available to people and all other organisms. This includes assessing water use and discharge, ensuring ecological health and safeguarding water and soil resources. It also includes sustainable land use and soil protection in supply chains.
5. Social Fairness
This category assesses that companies are committed to upholding human rights and applying fair and equitable business practices. It includes examination of safe labour practices, upholding human rights, and due diligence in the entire value chain. Companies are expected to demonstrate ethical sourcing and fair treatment of workers by providing both qualitative and quantitative evidence. The assessment embraces safe, fair and equitable labour practices that will help to protect human rights and strong communities.
Conclusion
The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard is a powerful tool for companies committed to sustainable innovation. It offers a flexible yet rigorous framework for improving product design across five key areas. Whether pursuing full certification or starting with Material Health or Circularity, the program supports continuous improvement and global recognition.
For companies, certification can:
Enhance brand reputation
Meet and go beyond regulatory requirements
Drive R&D and innovation
Product sustainability roadmap
Interested to explore how Sustenuto can help you achieve certification? Read more about our Cradle to Cradle Certified® services.
Coming up in Series 3: We’ll explore the step-by-step journey to certification—from eligibility checks to documentation and final approval. Stay tuned for practical guidance on how to certify your product.