The Real-world Laboratory
The C2C LAB as a Real-World Laboratory
Green walls that improve indoor air quality. Carpets that bind fine dust. Furniture made from materials designed to return to biological or technical cycles. Cleaning products that keep water clean. Toys and printed materials that are healthy for people and the environment. Electronics that are used rather than owned.
The C2C LAB is more than a renovated building. It is a real-world laboratory and a place where Cradle to Cradle is not just discussed, but put into practice.
Since 2018, the comprehensive renovation of a former pharmacy and medical practice within an East Berlin prefab building has been carried out according to Cradle to Cradle principles. Materials are selected so they can either biodegrade safely or remain in technical cycles. Components are designed for disassembly. Products are created for their intended use.
More than just construction
But the laboratory does not end with the construction.
In its day-to-day operations, the C2C LAB showcases Cradle to Cradle innovations across many fields:
building materials and furniture, textiles and packaging, IT and communication solutions, toys and books, food and hygiene products, as well as services and processes. Here, the full scope of Cradle to Cradle comes to life.
C2C LAB Exhibition
At the C2C LAB, Cradle to Cradle becomes visible and easy to understand. Our exhibition makes transparent which materials, products, and construction methods are used throughout the LAB and why.
Every product tells a story:
- What is it made of?
- Are the materials healthy for people and the environment?
- How can they return to biological or technical cycles after use?
On site, signage explains the solutions step by step and turns the LAB into a place of learning. Here, future-ready design becomes tangible.
Mit freundlicher Unterstützung von:
Explore the exhibition online:
Our partners
The real-world laboratory is made possible by a strong community. Manufacturers, retailers, service providers, skilled trades, and civil society organizations contribute their products, expertise, and services.
Together, we show that change is achievable. Not in theory, but in practice.
C2C LAB Partner
Companies marked with an asterisk (*) produce Cradle to Cradle Certified® products.
Founding and Development (2019–2025)
Expansion & Growth (starting in 2026)
C2C wood for interior design, office furniture and facade*
C2C wall paint for interior use made from renewable raw materials*
C2C glass partitions, ceiling sails and baffles*
Refurbished office furniture with return service*
Energy consulting
Furniture design with C2C wood
Office door with filling made from Paludi biomass (marsh grasses)
C2C oak parquet with take-back system*
Organic lemonade and iced tea
Interior coating system consisting of C2C primer, filler and paint*
Organic cookies and other organic snacks from regional cereals
Everyday products for the household*
Fire protection plan
Documentation of the construction project via digital revision documents
C2C switches and sockets*
C2C flat roof membrane made of synthetic rubber, used as a protective layer for floors*
Leveling compound made from mineralized wood chips for floors
C2C flooring*
Clay screed
Refurbished Laptops
Reuse light bulbs
Air-purifying plant and water walls
Organic wines from C2C-inspired regenerative cultivation
C2C carpet tiles*
C2C drinking bottles*
Planning and process consulting
Rug made of wool and recycled polyamide*
C2C woodchip wallpaper*
Electricity from 100% renewable energy
Flags and banners in C2C quality
C2C tiles with magnetic mounting system*
C2C swivel, conference, and visitor chairs*
Acoustic panels made from mushroom mycelium
Wood fiber boards with activated natural resin instead of glue
Consultant for C2C planning, design, and interior design
C2C LED lights*
C2C swivel, conference, and visitor chairs*
C2C Foam glass panels made from recycled glass as floor panels and thermal insulation*
C2C paint for indoors and outdoors and C2C tile adhesive for outdoors*
C2C taps and shower heads*
Lampshades made from 100% mycelium composites
Window construction and installation according to C2C
C2C-inspired armchair
C2C office and conference chairs*
Acoustic panel made from recycled paper fibers*
Support in technical questions regarding architecture, renovation, and bureaucracy
Planning of technical building equipment
Acoustic solutions made from polyester fibers with a take-back program*
Digital communication environment and telephones
C2C upholstery fabrics and curtains*
C2C sockets and switches*
C2C washbasins for bathrooms and kitchens*
Wall paints, fillers, base coats made from mineral and recyclable materials*
Installation of acoustic solutions according to C2C criteria
Screw-fixed transition and finishing strips made from secondary aluminum
Fair trade organic beer
C2C cosmetics and packaging for the biological cycle*
Fair trade organic tea and coffee
Building materials made from clay, sand, plant fibers, and mineral additives, as well as glass fiber mesh and a take-back system
Recycled C2C paper*
C2C-designed freezer with perlite volcanic rock
C2C glass partitions, ceiling sails, baffles and telephone booth*
Dry screed with tongue-and-groove system
C2C furniture made from 100% recycled plastic*
3D modeling and visualization of the building material inventory
Beverage cooler with magnetic cooling
Wood-based C2C-material for outdoor applications*
C2C carpet tiles with self-adhesive, residue-free backing solution*
C2C carpet tiles with recyclable tile backing*
C2C tiles for the sanitary area and the facade*
Acoustic panels made from mushroom mycelium
Natural insulation material made from seaweed
Network architecture and IT administration
C2C-inspired kitchen
Smart Locks & Accessories
Indoor greening for healthy air quality
C2C inspired chemically safe wood care & wood preservatives
C2C design planning and interior architecture
Refurbished electrical appliances
Modular, repairable headphones as-a-service
Drywall construction and painting as an educational cooperation for trainees
C2C outlets and covers*
C2C modular system for windows and doors*
Modular, repairable and ethically produced smartphones
Rescued food
C2C-inspired detergents and cleaning products
Leicht reparierbares und modulares Heizkörper-Lüftersystem
C2C-inspired bar tables, lounge furniture and workbenches
C2C partition wall system made of glass and aluminium*
C2C cleaning products in containers made from recycled plastic*
C2C linoleum, wood parquet and PVB flooring with take-back system*
Refurbished Coffee Machine
Solid wood construction system made from micro-modular wooden building blocks
Compostable C2C acoustic panels for ceiling and wall*
Lighting design according to C2C criteria
Construction sequence planning and site management
C2C floor coating and floor installation products
Circular refurbishment of existing furniture
C2C classroom and comercial chair*
C2C pendant and floor luminaires with biodynamic light*
C2C soap & paper dispensers and toilet paper
Modular tables and stools in wood
Modular office desks and C2C-inspired lounge furniture
Repairable and durable kitchen appliances
Multifunctional cuboid
C2C facade made of galvanised steel*
Innovations in Construction and Implementation
Beyond individual products, construction methods and building systems also play a key role in enabling circular building:
- Clay plaster: Natural materials applied through high-quality craftsmanship, designed for reversibility.
- Drywall: Gypsum boards with aluminum profiles, free of PVC.
- Substructure systems: Aluminum structures for wall and ceiling panels.
- Electrical systems: PVC- and halogen-free cables, surface-mounted and routed through aluminum conduits.
- Wastewater systems: Polyethylene pipes instead of PVC.
- Ventilation: Dismountable aluminum ductwork.
C2C construction is not only about the materials themselves, but about the way a new building or renovation is designed and assembled: separable, deconstructible, healthy, and thoughtfully planned.
For further information also check out our digital flyer.
Become a C2C LAB Partner
Products or services designed with circular principles in mind?
Interested in making innovations visible and further developing them in a real-world setting?
The C2C LAB real-world laboratory offers the opportunity to present solutions in practice and to develop them together.
We look forward to connecting.
Contact: Wolter Student
lab[at]c2c.ngo