C2C Certified v3 Banned List (out of date)
Cradle to Cradle Certified™ v3 Banned List
Please see C2C Certified v4 Restricted Substance List for the most up to date list
Lists of chemicals and substances that are banned for use in Cradle to Cradle Certified products as intentional inputs above 1000 ppm. These substances were selected for inclusion on the Banned Lists due to their tendency to accumulate in the biosphere and lead to irreversible negative human health effects. In addition, several substances were selected due to hazardous characteristics associated with their manufacture, use, and disposal.
There are two lists provided:
- Biological Nutrients
- Technical Nutrients
A key component of Cradle to Cradle® design is the recognition of and design for the two nested cycles – biological and technical. Banned Lists were thus created separately for biological and technological nutrients to allow for the use of some substances like lead or cadmium in materials where exposure to humans or the environment is highly unlikely to occur. Lead, for example, is often used in cast aluminum, from which it does not migrate out of the material and can therefore be managed in safe technical cycles. However, lead should not be used in biological nutrients, which ultimately cycle into the biosphere. On the other hand, mercury is not suitable for either type of nutrient cycles due its ability to easily migrate out of materials.