Scientific experience
Our work with the Cradle to Cradle design concept is leading the way:
As a scientific research and consultancy institute, EPEA has more than 30 years of experience working at the forefront of and driving industrial innovation and circular economy beyond sustainability.
The foundation of our scientific work is the Cradle to Cradle design concept: we consult, support, and train companies and professionals to implement the Cradle to Cradle framework and to optimize their products and processes.
EPEA already started between 1987 and 1992 to develop a concept called: “Intelligent Product System” for transforming the linear economy into an economically and environmentally sustainable system of intelligent products.
In 1992, “The Hannover Principles, Design for Sustainability” settled a new set of statements about designing buildings and products with forethought about their environmental impact, their effect on sustainability aspects and their overall impact on society.
In 2001 the first book was published: “Cradle to Cradle® Remaking the way we make things” described the paradigm shift needed on the path to a positive footprint. Since then we optimize products ans procresses for the bio- and technosphere.
EPEA – The Cradle of Cradle to Cradle
Awarded for innovation and quality
For our work with the Cradle to Cradle design concept, the EPEA Team and its CEO Michael Braungart have been awarded several times by various institutions. A selection of these awards is displayed below:
30 Years EPEA: Our Milestones


1992
The Hannover Principles is a set of statements about designing buildings and objects with forethought about their environmental impact, their effect on the sustainability of growth, and their overall impact on society. They were first created by William McDonough and Michael Braungart for the Expo 2000 in Hannover.

1995
The collaboration between the architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart in New York, resulted in 1995 in the founding of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
1987
Foundation of EPEA (Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency) in Hamburg by Dr. Michael Braungart. The word “Encouragement” is intended to contrast with the term “protection”, which is described in “U.S. Environmental Protection Act.”. A cornerstone of EPEA’s corporate philosophy is to advocate cooperation between relevant organizations, industry and the state.

1987 – 1992
Development of the methodology Intelligent Product System (IPS): In articles and conferences EPEA communicated their thesis that environmental sustainability can be achieved when consumer products are made for a closed loop cycle.

1994
EPEA in Hamburg, London, New York, Moscow and Sao Paulo are working on building a global EPEA network. In 1994, the existing corporate structure was replaced through the “EPEA Internationale Umweltforschung GmbH”

2001
The first book is published: Cradle to Cradle® Remaking the way we make things.
2006
The film “Waste = Food” by Rob Van Hattum was launched, which won several awards. Watch it!

2008 – 2009
Foundation of EPEA Netherland, EPEA Switzerland, EPEA Eindhoven, EPEA Taiwan und EPEA Copenhagen.

2010
The Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Institute opened in 2010 in California. The Institute’s goal is to support and accelerate the transformation of the products and the industry along the way. The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is accredited by the State of California “non-profit U.S. organization” for the global certification of all Cradle to Cradle ® products.

2013
The new book “The Upcycle – Beyond Sustainability – Designing for Abundance”, written by William McDonough und Michael Braungart, is published.

2011 – 2012
Foundation of EPEA Paris, EPEA Türkei, EPEA Spain and EPEA Brazil.

2019
You want to be part of the journey and achieve your own milestones with Cradle to Cradle?