McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) certified more than 100 products to its Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) standards last year, bringing the total number of C2C products to more than 300.

Some of the newest C2C products were made by big-name brands, including Nestle Waters North America, Method, Kiehl's and Aveda.

"Over the past year, we've noticed more companies coming to us because they see an opportunity to be recognized as leaders in sustainability from governments and NGOs, but also from consumers," Jay Bolus, MBDC's vice president of technical operations, said in a statement Friday. "Even in challenging economic times, sustainability is becoming more central to their way of doing business, and they're willing to put in the work."

Launched in late 2005, the C2C certification includes four achievement levels -- basic, silver, gold and platinum -- and covers material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship and social responsibility.

C2C-certified products come from a range of sectors, such as Dow Styrofoam insulation, Eco countertops, Aveda shampoos and conditioners, Herman Miller's Aeron desk chair, and Method cleaning products.

"Method is committed to making innovative products and packaging that are sustainable and green to the core, like our business," Method Co-Founder Adam Lowry said in a statement. "Obtaining external verification from MBDC, the people who wrote the book on Cradle to Cradle design, reinforces the work we're doing to make our products safe for people and the environment, and it reflects our authentic mission of sustainability at a time when many companies talk about being green."

MBDC has seen an increase in interest in the certification in recent years, with roughly two-thirds of all product certifications taking place in the last two years. Last year, 14 products met C2C's Gold-level certification, more than in any previous year.