Issue (WIWE) status: Submitted, Unpublished

Weak Signal's progress: Advanced

This Weak Signal came from: 
European Commission Framework Programme for RTD

The theme/scheme related to this Weak Signal: 
Theme 8 - Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities

The sub-theme that best relates to this Weak Signal: 
Blue Sky Research on emerging issues and other research economies

When did the Weak Signal manifest ? 
2000-2005

Weak Signal's description: 

Venlo (NL) and its 90.000 inhabitants adopted McDonough and Braungart´s concept of Cradle to Cradle (waste = food) as a vision for their city. This joints the industry with the politicians, the general public and the creative people in a giant common project. Entrepreneurs in Venlo saw it as a great tool for innovation that also makes sense economically, while saving our planet. The Venlonians agree that the concept is very difficult to put into practice by the industry, but Cradle to Cradle is a common goal towards which they all work, share ideas, raise questions, find answers and take actions to make it work.
An exhibition in Maastricht in 2008/2009 now presented the first Cradle to Cradle (C2C) products developed by companies in the region of Limburg (where Venlo is situated).
An important future milestone will be the Floriade in 2012, the World Horticulture Fair, held every 10 years. The Floriade organisers have also decided to adapt Cradle to Cradle as their main theme, building a 66-hectare sustainable fair ground, which afterwards will be used to build Greenpark Venlo, a planned green business area.