Cradle 2 Cradle, Environment, Flooring and Insulation

Emily Tyler

Project Floors

Understanding the Impact of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on New Zealand's Ecosystems

Learners will gain an in-depth understanding of how the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations over the past century has led to significant environmental changes in New Zealand, including shifts in climate, impacts on iconic species like the kiwi bird, and disruptions in agricultural practices.

Recognising the Significance of Embodied Carbon in Construction

Participants will develop an understanding of embodied carbon emissions in the construction industry and its substantial contribution to New Zealand's overall carbon footprint. They will learn the importance of considering material production and transportation in early stages of construction projects.

Differentiating Between Carbon Neutral and Carbon Negative Approaches

Learners will be able to distinguish between carbon neutral and carbon negative concepts in relation to carbon emissions. They will understand that while both are steps toward combatting climate change, carbon negativity involves actively removing more CO2 from the atmosphere than is emitted, presenting a more proactive approach.

Understand the key features and benefits of Thrive® Matter as a sustainable flooring material, including its circular economy design, adaptability, and third-party verification.

Gain insight into the manufacturing process of Thrive® Matter, including the use of post-consumer recycled content, sustainable washing processes, and integration of color during production.

Recognise the environmental impact of choosing Thrive® Matter, including its contribution to reducing embodied carbon and its role in supporting carbon offset projects such as the Soma 3 Wind Farm and forest conservation in Brazil.

Ren DeCherney

Cradle 2 Cradle

Talk topic: Ren will discuss Cradle 2 Cradle approach and how this fits in the building and construction landscape.

Ren is the Lead for the Built Environment for the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. She is a licensed interior designer who helps designers and manufacturers translate their sustainability pledges into reality. Prior to joining the Institute, she worked in Portland as a designer, taking her firm PVC-free - the first firm in Portland to make such a commitment. She was the Director of Industry Transparency at Source, a digital materials platform, where she integrated sustainability filters into the platform. She then worked at the International Living Future Institute, overseeing the Declare and Living Product Challenge programs working with both designers and manufacturers to implement sustainability strategy into everyday practices.

About the presentation:

This presentation will detail the newly launched Cradle to Cradle Products certification version 4. Topics covered include the impact of the building industry on the climate, environment and people. Attendees will be introduced to the five principles of the Cradle to Cradle certification: material health, climate, water and soil stewardship, circularity, and social fairness, and how the certification works as a framework for optimization. The presentation will go over the requirements manufacturers must meet to achieve the four levels of certification (bronze, silver, gold, and platinum). Attendees will also learn how designers can use the certification to optimize their product specification on projects to design buildings that are safe, circular, and responsibly made.

• Learning objectives:
  Understand how a multi-attribute certification evaluates products
• Describe a circular economy and how it relates to the built environment
• Understand how designers can optimize their product specifications