C2C Network – Perspective study: Governance for C2C
This paper presents a perspective study on governance for Cradle to Cradle (C2C). The study aims to provide insight in governance aspects of C2C initiatives in various European regions that participated in the Interreg IVC C2C Network project (C2CN). It builds on the Governance for C2C Framework1, presented at the C2CN thematic seminar on July 12-13th in Leuven, Belgium, and is a preparatory step towards the publication of a C2C Good Practices Handbook, recommendations on governance for C2C and further actions.
The purpose of this perspective study is to develop our understanding and effectiveness of governance for C2C in the different target areas, including industry (production processes, products and product- service systems), building design, area-specific spatial development and governance practices. Before presenting our findings, this paper clarifies the concepts of Cradle to Cradle (1) and governance (2). We propose that domains of broad societal innovation, such as C2C, benefit from a focus on multi-actor governance, explore different approaches to governing change in a multi-actor perspective and present a brief overview of corresponding lead-roles (3). We then briefly introduce how we proceeded in this study and present a range of governance practices that participating C2CN partners judged relevant and, to different degrees, effective in Cradle to Cradle and the broader context of sustainable develop- ment (4). Our overview of these practices is organized in three parts, covering initiatives that focus on spreading C2C ideas and knowledge (4.2.1), practices that focus on setting standards (4.2.2) and ini- tiatives ‘in the field’, aiming to turn specific material chains into clean closed (continuous) loops (4.2.3). As a last step in this study, we explore four governance themes that appear important for C2C and / or sustainable development (5), i.e. the organizational conditions that support multi-actor governance for C2C (5.1), the role of government actors in such an approach (5.2), the tensions or dilemma’s that may be involved (5.3) and issues related to policy transfer (5.4). We conclude with a brief review of the headlines of this perspective study and related reflections concerning governance for C2C.
As a last pointer: in order to not overload our analysis, the text itself does not present the governance practices in great detail. Instead, we include a selection of illustrative cases in frames on separate pag- es. These case descriptions rest on information provided by the case owners, i.e. representatives of the initiative-takers who presented the practice in the C2CN network (see 4.1). For further information about specific initiatives or projects, footnotes indicate the related websites whenever such a site is available.
