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Environmental Protection AND Economic Growth

7th International "Cradle to Cradle" Congress in Freiburg, Mainz and Mönchengladbach

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Environment Minister Svenja Schulze at the opening of the C2C Congress 2020, Photo: Max Arens

Are increased environmental protection and economic growth compatible? Many statements on the subject suggest that this is not the case. The 2021 "Cradle to Cradle" congress will be held around the theme of "Urban Future" to show that environmental protection and economic growth can complement each other perfectly. Unlike previous years, the 2021 congress will be held in three stages. It is possible to participate in person as well as digitally via live stream. 

The design concept "Cradle to Cradle" ("From the cradle to the cradle", in short: C2C), which was developed by the chemist Michael Braungart (gbs advisory board member) and the American architect William McDonough, relies on a circular economy – eliminating the concept of waste entirely! All products must be degradable or reusable. Thus, humans can leave a "positive ecological footprint" and transition from "environmental pest" to "environmental benefactor." 

This is certainly a highly ambitious goal, which basically requires nothing less than a "new industrial revolution". Numerous examples have already shown that a C2C circular economy is possible, it only needs to be implemented on a broader scale. That's why the non-profit C2C NGO encourages companies, organizations and individuals to rethink. The C2C Congress provides compelling expertise and impressive practical examples - delivered by key figures within the realms of business, science, education, politics, and society. They all discuss proven methods, products and approaches to C2C, in person or digitally via live stream. 

This is certainly a highly ambitious goal, which basically requires nothing less than a "new industrial revolution". Numerous examples have already shown that a C2C circular economy is possible, it only needs to be implemented on a broader scale. That's why the non-profit C2C NGO encourages companies, organizations and individuals to rethink. The C2C Congress provides compelling expertise and impressive practical examples - delivered by key figures within the realms of business, science, education, politics, and society. They all discuss proven methods, products and approaches to C2C, in person or digitally via live stream.

One congress – three stages

This year there will be three new stages in three cities with three different thematic focuses. The "Cradle to Cradle Congress" will open with a full-day event in Freiburg on the "Next Industrial Revolution – Scaling Innovation", which will take place on 14 July at the Messe Freiburg. The programme continues with a conference on "Plastics & Packaging for Tomorrow" on 7 September in the Rheingoldhalle Mainz. The final event on 4 November in Mönchengladbach focuses on "Cities & Regions Driving Change" (venue: Kaiser-Friedrich-Halle Mönchengladbach). Further information on the programme and ticket sales can be found on the congress website.

As in the previous year, Federal Minister for the Environment Svenja Schulze has assumed patronage for the International "Cradle to Cradle Congress", which is also supported by the Giordano Bruno Foundation, among others. The gbs supports the "Cradle to Cradle NGO" because the C2C design concept combines ecology and humanism in an exemplary way.