Business Quote by William McDonough
“Our concept of eco-effectiveness means working on the right things - on the right products and services and systems - instead of making the wrong things less bad. Once you are doing the right things, then doing them "right," with the help of efficiency among other tools, makes perfect sense.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Cradle to Cradle, William McDonough & Michael Braungart, 2002
Eco-effectiveness focuses on creating the right products and systems rather than merely reducing harm of existing ones.
In simple terms: Create right things, then make them right.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize designing sustainable solutions.
Themes
sustainability
design
efficiency
innovation
Mood
optimistic
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- product development
- policy making
- business strategy
- environmental planning
Key Concepts
systems thinking
circular economy
product lifecycle
Questions to Reflect On
- What current product could be reimagined for eco-effectiveness?
- How can efficiency tools be integrated without compromising quality?
A Different Perspective
May overlook cost or feasibility of redesigning existing infrastructure.
![“You need that same creative force that exists in a building like Disney [Walt Disney Concert Hall] to actually tackle that most prosaic of problems.” quote by William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a98/william-mcdonough-10055_building_you-need-that-same-creative-force-that-e_157070.jpg)
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)