Pilot Credit MRpc131: Circular Products

Amber,  Hi.  

Our Team is also pursuing this credit.  I am right there with you in the search for compliant products that align with our project scope and have found the Zero Waste and Closed Loop Certified to be the most viable criteria at the moment.  We have not submitted for review but I also plan to use various Ceco Door products as well as Interface Glasbac/ GlasbacRE carpet tile(s) to achieve the Credit.  The Interface product(s) are Green Circle "Closed Loop Certified" - which is not well publicized.  You can access the info & GreenCircle Label here if it is useful to your project (please note - it is only the GlasbacRE and not (standard) Glasbac:   https://www.interface.com/US/en-US/sustainability/product-transparency/G...

I can also offer some things with respect to "Designed for Cicularity" that I think could be close and might be being further developed (which might pan out in the future).  I think the major sticking point is the intent for product design that intends for component re-use instead or re-absorbing procuct into a recycling program:

•  Acrovyn products might be close with  C2C Material Utiliz. of "Gold" and a published "Consumer Awareness Program" that cites closed loop practices & take-back procedures (but they are clearly talking about recycling (not reuse) and gets a bit worse when they noted that "Recycling programs may not exist in your area").... but parts of this system are good candidates for reuse - maybe something will develop.
• I found that Armstrong Prelude Grid has a C2C Material Utilization score of Gold, but I couldn't find anything that seemed to qualify as a "published nutrient mgmt. strategy" that provides how to re-use, dissasemble or recover materials at the end of their use.  But ceiling grid is another good candidate - I have yet to check with Armstrong to see if they have anything that might comply.
• Same for Xorel - it has a C2C Material Utilization of Gold and a "Responsible Return Program" - but that program notes that only "unbacked" product can be recycled and sends some product to a Waste to Energy facility - not exactly the intent here...but who knows for the future.
• Crossville has a Cradle to Grave EPD that addresses the required C1-C4 & D (recovery and disposal phases) and a published take-back program - this seems to align with the Guidance, but again - they "recycle" tile so I don't think it counts at the moment.

Very interested if you have other feedback.

Hi Amber,

I'm looking at the viability of pursuing this Pilot credit on a project currently and I'm curious if your pursuit was successful. I am looking at multiple flooring products and focusing on products that have the Cradle to Cradle v3 Gold certification in the Materials Reutilization category. Do you have any lessons learned you could share on this? It seems like a relatively easy credit to pursue if you already have a variety of Cradle to Cradle products being used on the project.

Thanks!

@Amber Morris - PC Circular Products requires to use at least 5 permanently installed products from 3 manufacturers. All the mentioned door hardware manufacturers such as Sargent, McKinney, Norton, Pemko and CECO are brands under ASSA ABLOY, which makes 1 manufacturer. Did you achieve this pilot credit? Could you share your learning? Thanks! 

Hi all,  

I am pursuing this credit on a few different projects and to date have been successful with the first that has gone through review.  Referencing Bipin's note above regarding Assa Abloy- I have had a successful review using separate Ceco and Curries door and frame products.  Bear in mind that although Assa Abloy is the parent company, each (Ceco and Curries) are distinct companies with their own product lines and operations.  Two important considerations -

• the credit requires (5) permanently installed products from a minimum of (3) manufacturers and no more than (4) products may come from any single category.  In other words, (the equivalent valuation of) at least one of your products must meet different criteria than the rest.  It is worth mentioning - all of my Ceco and Curries products fell into the Zero Waste Manufacturing category.
• The valuation of a product differs depending upon the Category and the level of the criteria met.  Valuations range from .5 product to 1.5 products.

I am noticing that a few manufacturers are becoming more aware of this pilot, but I find it is still difficult to be certain of acceptable types of data for compliance unless you have a Cradle-to-Cradle or other actual program certificate that denotes the criteria is met....Anybody find the industry definition of a "nutrient management strategy" (that doesn't invole agriculture) yet? :)

As mentioned in my post above, I have used Interface carpet tiles (please note that that the GlasBac RE has been transitioned to CQuest GB backing) - which still retains the "Closed Loop" product status.  I have also identified a few products on our projects from companies that have achieved "True" Zero Waste certification...but without those Closed Loop carpets, I would be struggling.  I am hopeful that as C2C v4 gains momentum, we'll have some new options.

Hi All, We've been awarded this pilot credit on several of our LEED v4  projects. We've been able to find several products that fall within the Designed for Circularity section and Zero Waste Manufacturing section of this pilot credit. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have.