Originally developed in Germany, the Cradle to Cradle® (C2C) certification initiative is now in use across Europe and North America. It is a set of design principles that set the global standard for products that are responsibly made and circular. Updates in 2021 include percentages of recycled content by material type.

Leading brands, retailers, designers and manufacturers across the value chain rely on the Cradle to Cradle® Certified Product Standard to communicate the impact of their products on the planet is a positive one. For more than a decade, Cradle to Cradle Certified has been helping companies to innovate and optimize materials and products. Cradle to Cradle® certified assesses the safety, circularity and responsibility of materials and products across five categories of sustainability performance: material health, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship, social fairness, and product circularity (including recycled content for plastic polymers).

The 2021 updated evaluation criteria includes variable percentages of recycled content for both post-consumer and total percentage requirements on a sliding scale to achieve either bronze, silver, gold or platinum certifications.  Plastic sub-categories included are listed below.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) General
Thermal Insulation (Plastic non-woven Batt)
Building Structure
Plastic Furniture Component
Carpet Fiber
Resilient Flooring
Plastic Binders
Plastic Envelope
Synthetic Fiber for Fabric
Plastic Bottles
Clamshell Containers
Blister Packs
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) General
Piping
Plastic Furniture Component
Transportation Packaging
Binders
Plastic Folders
Plastic Clipboards
Plastic Envelope
Plastic Bottles
Food Tubs and Cups
Grocery, Trash or Lawn Bags
Polystyrene General
Plastic Furniture Component
Crown Molding and Tiling
Thermal Insulation (Plastic non-woven Batt)
Binders
Plastic Clipboards
Picture Frames
 Loose Fill
Polypropylene (PP) General – Injection Molded
General – Blow Molded
Plastic Bottles
Injection Molded PP Food Tubs, Bowls and Other
Transportation Packaging
Thermoformed PP Foods Tubs, Cups, Lids, Plates
Other Plastics single resin recycling source
commingled recycling source
Flexible sheet packaging
Flexible pouch packaging
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) General
Plastic Bags  <1.0mil (Grocery)
Plastic Bags  >1.0mil (Grocery)
Plastic Wrapping