In cradle-to-cradle management, the manufacturer is responsible for the product from its production (cradle) to its final disposition after the consumer is finished with it. If the item were merely disposed of, it would be sent to its “grave” and those resources wasted. If, however, the item is disassembled and the parts reused, these parts become raw material again for a new product—a new “cradle.” This provides an incentive to produce the product in a way that uses durable, reusable parts and that minimizes toxicity, since the manufacturer is responsible for dealing with those toxins.