Michael Braungart

Michael Braungart is a chemist and founder of EPEA International Umweltforschung GmbH in Hamburg, Germany and co-founder of MBDC McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry in Charlottesville, Virginia. His work has been published in numerous journals on science, public affairs, design and environment in Europe and the US. After completing his studies in Process Engineering in Darmstadt, Germany, Dr. Braungart went on to explore the chemical processes of industrial production techniques and subsequently spearheaded the formation of the chemistry section of Greenpeace International. By the time he completed his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Hannover in 1985, he had assumed leadership of Greenpeace Chemistry. He is currently a professor of Process Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences in Suderburg (Fachhochschule Nordostniedersachsen), also serving as director of an interdisciplinary materials flow management masters program. Working in concert with American architect and designer William A. McDonough in their product design and development firm, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, Dr. Braungart’s work addresses topics from particles to policy. He has initiated worldwide scholarly and scientific inquiry into the adverse environmental and physiological impacts of industrially-produced consumer goods. Furthermore, Dr. Braungart’s EPEA co-authored the Hannover Principles of Design: Design for Sustainability, which served as development guidelines for the World’s Fair in Hannover, 2000. In 2002, he also co-authored Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things with William McDonough. Dr. Braungart currently concentrates his efforts at McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry and EPEA Internationale Umweltforschung by working with innovative companies, such as AVEDA, method, and Shaw on issues of materials assessment, waste and energy balances, life-cycle design, and design for disassembly. He is also active in designing new products and was instrumental in the creation of the compostable fabric line Climatex® Lifecycle™ with William McDonough.

Schumacher College is part of the Dartington Hall Trust, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and as a charity (company no. 1485560, charity no. 279756). Registered office: The Elmhirst Centre, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6EL, UK.