What is Cradle to Cradle Certification?

In sustainable design, one certification stands out for its depth and rigor: Cradle to Cradle Certified® (C2C). More than a “check the box” label, C2C is a comprehensive framework that evaluates how products are made, what they’re made of, and what happens to them at the end of their life. It’s a blueprint for circularity - ensuring that today’s products can become tomorrow’s resources.

What Does C2C Certification Measure?

The 5 categories in the framework Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard (Full Scope) to assess the circularity and sustainability performance of materials and products.

Cradle to Cradle products are evaluated across five critical categories:

1. Material Health – Safe ingredients for people and the planet

2. Product Circularity – Designed for reuse, recycling, or recovery

3. Clean Air & Climate Protection – Renewable energy and carbon reduction

4. Water & Soil Stewardship – Responsible water use and ecosystem protection

5. Social Fairness – Protecting human rights and promoting equity in the supply chain

Products earn certification at levels ranging from Bronze to Platinum, with higher levels signaling deeper sustainability commitments.

Why C2C Matters for Buildings

For architects, designers, and specifiers, C2C offers confidence that a product contributes to healthier spaces, stronger performance, and alignment with programs like LEED, WELL, and Living Building Challenge. It’s one of the most robust ways to ensure transparency and accountability in product selection.

More at: https://c2ccertified.org/the-standard

Cradle to Cradle on Ecomedes

Ecomedes makes discovering and sourcing C2C Certified products simple. On our platform, you can filter specifically for C2C certification and instantly explore verified product data across leading manufacturers.

Some of the brands with C2C Certified products available on their ecomedes portals include:

• Tarkett – Flooring solutions designed with circularity in mind

• Milliken – Carpet and flooring with strong commitments to material health

• Construction Specialties – Architectural products built for sustainability and performance

• Haworth – Furniture designed for people and the planet

• Rockfon – Acoustic ceiling systems with verified transparency and circular design

And that’s just the beginning. Explore hundreds more C2C Certified products at products.ecomedes.com.

The Bottom Line

Cradle to Cradle Certified products help set the standard for healthier, more sustainable buildings. By bringing these products together on Ecomedes, we make it easier than ever for design and construction teams to choose materials that meet the highest benchmarks for performance and responsibility.

👉 Start exploring: Discover C2C Certified products on Ecomedes

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Sources: 

Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute – About C2C Certified® (program overview, certification levels, categories) https://c2ccertified.org/get-certified/product-certification

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) – Cradle to Cradle Certified and LEED v4 (alignment with LEED) https://www.usgbc.org/resources/cradle-cradle-certified-and-leed-v4

International WELL Building Institute – WELL Building Standard (alignment with material health) https://www.wellcertified.com/