What are the themes of the book?

One of the book's main themes is the centered around the way that most of our goods and architecture are designed to be thrown away or destroyed after use. Unfortunately, many of our goods are made of bad combinations of materials that cannot be easily separated, broken down, and reused for quality, aesthetic goods. These badly designed goods are hybrids that may combine components manufactured in various parts of the world, so that there is no quality control on what goes into the components. The authors refer frequently to athletic shoes, which are often manufactured overseas, and even if they are made in the U.S. or other countries that have regulations about ingredients and toxicity, many of the components are imported which are not made according to rigorous standards. In the case of athletic shoes, every time a person takes a step, toxic particles can be thrown into the air and onto the ground. These particles may not biodegrade easily nor may they be easily separated from the environment. This approach, using materials that are potentially dangerous, or combining materials that cannot be easily reused, is called "cradle to grave" design. The end product cannot be transformed into something as good as or even better than the original item. Cradle to cradle means that good design allows a product to be produced safely, used with enjoyment, and when it is no longer wanted, easily broken down into its components, to make another great product. Cradle to cradle means that manufacture, consumption, and building do not need to damage the environment. All our practices can enhance the environment and provide excellent, beautiful materials for an abundant life.