Communication strategy tool user guide

The application of Cradle to Cradle (C2C) principles in business sites is likely to be hampered by several barriers, some of which are socio-cultural in nature. To promote change and new thinking in the way business sites are designed, built and operated, there is the need to properly understand socio-cultural issues that create ‘lock-in’ to existing practices (Peterson and Anderson, 2009) so that these can be taken into account in the way C2C is presented to different business site stakeholders to secure their commitment to C2C inspired projects. These socio-cultural barriers are deeply rooted in the basic assumptions and value priorities of stakeholders. Strategies for communicating and promoting the C2C vision must therefore be aligned with such stakeholder value priorities and assumptions

Beyond sustainable buildings: eco-efficiency to eco-effectiveness through cradle-to-cradle design

The cradle-to-cradle (C2C) philosophy has been described as a paradigm changing innovative platform for achieving ecologically intelligent and environmentally restorative buildings. Whereas conventional sustainability efforts focus on doing “less harm” to the environment,C2C proposes a radically new way of thinking about waste, renewable energy and promotion of diversity. Industry specific barriers to change however hinder adoption of C2C in the built environment. In this study, it is argued from a synthesis of extant literature that many of these barriers are rooted in socio-cultural factors, a better understanding of which could help accelerate adoption of C2C principles in the built environment. Using business park developments as a backdrop, a framework for interrogating the socio-cultural context within which development projects take place and barriers to C2C adoption is proposed. The framework incorporates the competing values framework which is adapted to facilitate diagnosis and matching of different organisational value profiles to the choices that development stakeholders are likely to make in relation to C2C implementation. A key theoretical proposition which derives from this framework is that stakeholder organisations that subscribe to open system values are more likely to overcome socio - cultural barriers and implement C2C principles as a design model compared to stakeholder organisations that orient towards internal process values. It is anticipated that culture profiles of key stakeholder organisations and the nature of their alignment towards C2C oriented changes will be identified through empirical testing of this framework

Control influence on trust and relational governance in the client-contractor dyad

The construction industry has in recent years witnessed a paradigm shift towards the use of more collaborative contracting relationships and integrated processes in an attempt to improve construction project delivery. Trust is central to the success of these contracting approaches and although efforts are usually aimed at improving trust relations in client-contractor relationships, there has so far been mixed findings on how trust is influenced by formal control mechanisms discharged via formal contracts. In construction contracting, there is therefore the need to investigate how different governance modes and control mechanisms deployed on construction projects are perceived by those being controlled and how this in turn influences trust. Through a critique of the extant literature on trust and control in construction, this study reveals that the trust-control relationship which can be both complimentary and supplementary has far reaching implications on the measurement/assessment of trust in the construction project context. The orientation of governance and control mechanisms selected by clients and the behavioural consequences of these from contractors can thus be used as a measure of the degree of trust that exists in the dyad

Cyanogenic Glycoside Content of Fresh and Processed Peels of Four Improved Ghanaian Cassava Cultivars

The cyanogenic glycoside levels of four relatively new Ghanaian cassava cultivars were determined spectrophotometrically. The mean values obtained were 393.8, 548.9, 702.1 and 424.7 p.p.m. for Afisiafi, Abasafitaa, IITA9904 and Tech Bankye, respectively. The effects of sun-drying and a combination of soaking and sun-drying on the cyanogenic glycoside content were investigated. Soaking in water for 24 h followed by sun-drying for 24 h resulted in a 63 –74 per cent reduction in cyanogenic glycoside levels compared with 27 – 64 per cent reduction after sun-drying for 48 h. The results showed a significant reduction in cyanide potential of all the varieties following sun-drying and the combination of soaking and sun-drying (P < 0.05). The combination of soaking and sun-drying was more effective than sun-drying alone

Beyond sustainable buildings: eco-efficiency to eco-effectiveness through cradle-to-cradle design

Sustainable building development focuses on achieving buildings that meet performance and functionality requirements with minimum adverse impact on the environment. Such eco-efficiency strategies are however not feasible for achieving long-term economic and environmental objectives as they only result in damage reduction without addressing design flaws of contemporary industry. The cradle-to-cradle (C2C) design philosophy which has been described as a paradigm changing innovative platform for achieving ecologically intelligent and environmentally restorative buildings appears to offer an alternative vision which, if embraced, could lead to eco-effectiveness and the achievement of long-term environmental objectives. Adoption of C2C principles in the built environment has however been hindered by several factors especially in a sector where change has always been a very slow process. From a review of extant literature, it is argued that the promotion of current sustainable and/or gree n building strategies - which in themselves are not coherent enough due to their pluralistic meanings and sometimes differing solutions - are a major barrier to the promotion of C2C principles in the built environment. To overcome this barrier to C2C implementation, it is recommended that research should focus on developing clearly defined and measurable C2C targets that can be incorporated into project briefs from the inception of development projects. These targets could enable control, monitoring and comparison of C2C design outcomes with eco-efficient measures as well as serve as a guide for project stakeholders to achieve eco-effective “nutrient” management from the project conceptualization phase to the end of life of the building

Beyond sustainable buildings: eco-efficiency to eco-effectiveness through cradle-to-cradle design

This study investigates the cradle to cradle philosophy, which is a paradigm changing innovative platform for achieving positive ecological impacts in the built environment. With focus on business sites, a preliminary survey is conducted to interrogate tenant stakeholders’ preferences towards cradle to cradle attributes. Training, employment and use of local skills (social diversity)as well as realisation of highly flexible and easily adaptable spaces (conceptual diversity) were revealed as the most important attributes whilst integration of biodiversity was of least importance. This suggests therefore that business needs drive their preferences and as such must be reflected in C2C implementation strategies

Cradle to cradle implementation in business sites and the perspectives of tenant stakeholders

This study investigates the cradle to cradle philosophy, which is a paradigm changing innovative platform for achieving positive ecological impacts in the built environment. With focus on business sites, a preliminary survey is conducted to interrogate tenant stakeholders' preferences towards cradle to cradle attributes. Training, employment and use of local skills (social diversity) as well as realisation of highly flexible and easily adaptable spaces (conceptual diversity) were revealed as the most important attributes whilst integration of biodiversity was of least importance. This suggests therefore that business needs drive their preferences and as such must be reflected in C2C implementation strategies

The valuation tool user guide: monetizing Cradle to Cradle®

This User Guide outlines the object, scope and expected deliverables from the Valuation Tool component of the Cradle to Cradle ® C2C BIZZ project. It describes the compendium of subtools that have been developed comprising: i) overview of funding tools; ii) C2C investment appraisal tool; and iii) C2C value indexing tool. The underpinning methodologies, as well as their inherent strengths and limitations are also described. The C2C BIZZ project as a whole aims specifically to promote and enhance the implementation of C2C methods in business site development within North Western Europe (NWE) (PAD, p.14). It is intended to infuse C2C notions into conventional site development, restructuring and management. The primary focus of the project is on planning, building and managing of business sites with C2C credentials (PAD, p.18) using sites in Lille Metropole (La Lainiere), London (London Sustainable Industries Park) and Luxemburg (Ecoparc Windhof) as experimental fields. C2C BIZZ is not concerned with the internal operations and activities of occupiers or users of the developed site. Accordingly, the scope of the valuation tool is confined to the planning, building and management of C2C sites. The deliverable from this component is a compendium of subtools (see Figure 1 below) that may be used to analyse the financial performance of C2C credentials in business sites to aid the making of a business case for such developments and evaluating the financial incentives for particular C2C site development projects. This entire work is premised on the argument that the wider adoption of C2C principles within the built environment depends on the rate of uptake by the private sector. The private sector, being profit driven, are likely to engage in C2C site development if they are convinced of its capacity to contribute to their business goals which ultimately is a return on their investment. The tool development described in this document attempts to provide a framework for collating an evidence base that can assist in articulating the business case for C2C in business site developments