The Power of Design   Biological Metabolism The natural processes of ecosystems are a biological metabolism, making safe and healthy use of materials in cycles of abundance. Biological Nutrient A biodegradable (or otherwise naturally degradable) material posing no immediate or eventual hazard to living systems that can be used for human purposes and can safely return to the environment to feed environmental processes. Cradle-to-Grave A model of industrial systems in which material flows on a linear path, from extraction through a brief use phase, before ending up as waste. Cradle-to-grave systems are sometimes referred to as the "take-make-waste" model of industry. Cradle-to-Cradle Amodel of industrial systems in which material flows cyclically in appropriate, continuous biological or technical nutrient cycles. All waste materials are productively re-incorporated into new production and use phases, i.e. "waste equals food." Downcycling The practice of recycling a material in such a way that much of its inherent value is lost (for example, recycling plastic into park benches). Eco-Effectiveness Cradle to Cradle Design's strategy for intelligent and healthy materials use, designing human industry that is safe, profitable, and regenerative, producing economic, ecological, and social value. Eco-Efficiency The strategy for "sustainability" of minimizing harm to natural systems by reducing the amount of waste and pollution human activities generate. Eco-Lease Leasing system for implementing the Product of Service strategy. (See Product of Service below.) Ecological Intelligence The elegant intelligence of natural systems and processes (such as nutrient cycling, interdependence, celebration of diversity, solar power use, regeneration, etc.). Externalities The unforeseen or unaccounted negative impacts of a products, service, or system. Cradle-to-cradle approaches ask designers to identify and ameliorate potential externalities as part of the intelligent design process. Good growth In nature, growth is good. The real question we should be asking is: "What kind of growth do we want to promote?" Cradle-to-cradle design talks, not about being "less bad", but about doing more good, not about minimizing damage, but about maximizing delight. Good industry The current conversation about environmental and social challenges too often points to industry at the enemy. This is a mistake. The true villain is bad design, and the solution is an industry that makes intelligent, informed design decisions. Cradle-to-cradle thinking is the key to these decisions. Life Cycle Assessment A technique for assessing the potential environmental impacts of a product by examining all the material and energy inputs and outputs at each life cycle stage. Product of Consumption A product designed for safe and complete return to the environment, which becomes nutrients for living systems. The product of consumption design strategy allows products to offer effectiveness without the liability of materials that must be recycled or "managed" after use. Product of Service A product that is used by the customer, formally or in effect, but owned by the manufacturer. The manufacturer maintains ownership of valuable material assets for continual reuse while the customer receives the service of the product without assuming its material liability. Products that can utilize valuable but potentially hazardous materials can be optimized as Products of Service. Quality Dividend Value which accrues to a product or service as a direct result of increases in its design quality. Cradle-to-cradle approaches demonstrate that quality dividends can equal or exceed efficiency-based value creation strategies. Intelligent Design Design which takes into full account the inputs and externalities of a products, service, or system. Intelligent design is iterative, requiring constant feedback, revision, and redesign as new information emerges. Technical Metabolism Modeled on natural systems, the technical metabolism includes the processes of human industry that maintain and perpetually reuse valuable synthetic and mineral materials in closed loops. Technical Nutrient A material that remains in a closed-loop system of manufacture, reuse, and recovery (the technical metabolism), maintaining its value through many product life cycles. Unmarketables Materials to be eliminated from human use because they cannot be maintained safely in either biological or technical metabolisms. Upcycling The practice of recycling material in such a way that it maintains and/or accrues value over time (the opposite of downcycling).  The Power of Design