Cradle-to-Grave
Cradle-to-grave refers to the entire life cycle of a product, from the extraction of raw materials to the final disposal of the product.
The Cradle-to-grave concept is a supply chain management approach that considers the entire lifecycle of a product, from its creation to its end-of-life. This includes the extraction of raw materials, the manufacturing process, the transportation and distribution of the product, its use by consumers, and its eventual disposal.
The Cradle-to-Grave Concept:
Stage 1: Sourcing of Raw Materials – Extracting materials from the environment, with potential impacts like pollution and habitat destruction, especially for materials like oil and gas.
Stage 2: Manufacturing and Production – Transforming raw materials into products, with potential impacts from hazardous chemicals and waste generation, as seen in electronics production.
Stage 3: Packaging and Distribution – Packaging products for transportation and sale, with impacts depending on materials used and distance traveled, e.g., plastic packaging contributing to marine pollution.
Stage 4: Consumer Use and Maintenance – The use of products by consumers, with impacts depending on usage and maintenance practices, such as high-energy appliances contributing to climate change.
Stage 5: End-of-Life Management – Product disposal at the end of life, with impacts depending on disposal methods, e.g., incineration of electronic waste releasing harmful pollutants.