Monika Griefahn

  • Home
  • Monika Griefahn
    • Dr. Monika Griefahn,
      Former Minister
    • Curriculum vitae (PDF)
    • Downloads
    • References
    • References appointments
    • Publications
    • Photos
    • Archives German Parliament
  • Volunteering
  • institute for media,
    environment, culture
    • Cradle to Cradle
  • Blog
    • Politics
    • Culture
      and
      Media
    • Opinion
    • Cradle
      to
      Cradle
    • Right
      Livelihood
      Award
  • Appointments
  • Contact
    • Site Notice/Imprint
    • Privacy Policy
  • English
    • Deutsch
You are here: Home / Cradle to Cradle / Cradle to Cradle Congress calls for a world without waste

24. October 2017 | Monika Griefahn

Cradle to Cradle Congress calls for a world without waste

Cradle to Cradle congress 2017 in Lueneburg Photo: Max Arens

Cradle to Cradle congress 2017 in Lueneburg
Photo: Max Arens

Press release

Stop whining – let’s change the world!

We often remember negative news more clearly than we do positive, as the philosopher and writer Dr. Michael Schmidt-Salomon emphasised during the fourth Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Congress, which took place on October 20 & 21, 2017 at the Leuphana University in Lueneburg (Germany).

However, 800 participants in attendance served as a poignant illustration of the fact that the positive message contained within the C2C design concept is being met with great enthusiasm: we can change the world with a positive footprint and break the mold of classic models of sustainable thinking. “100 years from now, people will be more intelligent. They won’t even realize that production methods without C2C ever existed”, Schmidt-Salomon said. The prospect of a true circular economy that is based on the principles of C2C and that is able to combine environmental protection and the economy took centre stage in numerous real-world examples presented at the international C2C Congress, organized by Cradle to Cradle e.V.

At a time when resources are becoming increasingly scarce, C2C offers an innovation-oriented approach: from the outset products are developed and designed so that their raw materials can be easily recycled back into circuits. Renowned actors from the fields of fashion, plastics, organic farming, printing as well as this year’s spotlight subject, construction and architecture, discussed C2C as a driver of innovation in a variety of formats. It became clear that it takes visionaries and C2C enthusiasts who develop alternative proposals to existing products, production processes and management methods. Erwin Thoma, CEO of wood specialist Thoma Holz, stressed that in order to retain sufficient wood a house must be made into another house once it reaches the end of its useful life. If it was simply demolished and disposed of important raw materials would be lost. The Congress also formulated concrete political demands: for example, the public tender system in the construction sector should be replaced with a model in which the successful bid does not necessarily have to be the cheapest one.

The example of the company Dopper was a reminder that innovation can also be successfully applied in the field of plastics and that holistic solutions are needed. However, in order to achieve comprehensive change politics, the economy and consumers must act in unison.

Tim Janßen, CEO of C2C e.V., drew a very positive conclusion: “The Congress was a great success. The large number of participants as well as international actors such as Dr. Leyla Acaroglu, Lewis Perkins and Ken Webster show that the C2C Congress is being received with great interest and that it is the world’s largest C2C platform.”

Nora Sophie Griefahn, CEO of C2C e.V., also looked back positively on the event and is already looking forward to next year’s Congress: “Thanks to the 800 participants and actors such as Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme, Andreas Engelhardt and Dr. Michael Schmidt-Salomon the Congress was filled with life and demonstrated how C2C affects many different sectors of society.”

Info box
Cradle to Cradle
The Cradle to Cradle design concept models itself on the natural world, which knows no waste. Every product can be recycled if it is designed in such a way from the outset. A compostable t-shirt or a desk chair completely built from recyclable raw materials can circulate perpetually in biological and technological cycles. The aim of Cradle to Cradle e.V. is to establish the concept in the public sphere through education, networking and public relations.

Filed Under: Cradle to Cradle, General Article

Please share this in your community:

« Circular Economy – will the EU achieve a major coup?
“Trees wouldn’t vote for Trump…”
(A review of the 2017 Frankfurt Book Fair) »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Please stay in touch!

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Phone
  • xing
  • YouTube

Insights

Cradle to Cradle Congress 2023

Cradle to Cradle Congress 2023 - Logo

Cradle to Cradle Congress 2023: For the eighth time, the Cradle to Cradle NGO invites around 1,000 participants to exchange and network at the International Cradle to Cradle Congress 2023 in September. Please find more information here.


eFuels

Synthetic fuels are one of the decisive factors for the energy transition away from fossile fuels. That is why I am committed to the further development and practical use of eFuels and became a member of the Sounding Board of the eFuel Alliance in May 2021.
English website of the eFuel Alliance


Climate committee

Constituent session: Photo: City of Buchholz / Helms

In May 2021, the climate committee was constituted in the climate forum at my place of residence in Buchholz in the Nordheide. I am pleased to be chairwoman of the advisory board! The city has set itself the goal of becoming climate neutral and there is still a lot to do to achieve this. The committee advises the municipal  administration on fundamental questions of climate policy.
To the article on the Buchholz website (in German)


Kombo der Preisträger 2022

Right Livelihood Award

They stand up against violence and climate change and address the most pressing questions of our time: The 2022 recipients of the Right Livelihood Award are: Venezuela’s Cecosesola, Uganda’s Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO), Ukraine’s Oleksandra Matviichuk/Center for Civil Liberties (CCL), and Somalia’s Fartuun Adan and Ilwad Elman. Read more about the “Alternative Nobel Prize” here.


Federal Order of Merit

After the award ceremony, Olaf Lies, Monika Griefahn and Rainer Rempe stand together. Photo: Frank Ossenbrink

After the award ceremony, Olaf Lies, Monika Griefahn and Rainer Rempe stand together. Photo: Frank Ossenbrink

Our CEO Dr. Monika Griefahn received the Federal Order of Merit. Please read more about her biography and about the award ceremony in our blog.


Blog Archive

  • Home
  • Monika Griefahn
  • Volunteering
  • institute for media, environment, culture
  • Service
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Site Notice/Imprint
  • Privacy Policy

 

Logo Monika Griefahn GmbH/institut medien umwelt kultur Monika Griefahn GmbH
PO Box 1135
21231 Buchholz
Germany
Phone: +49 4181 4069262
Email:
Website: www.institut-muk.de
  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • xing
  • YouTube
Customise Privacy Settings
Copyright © 2013–2023 | Zurück zum Seitenanfang/Back to top | Alle Rechte vorbehalten! – All rights reserved.