1.4.1 Biomimicry for economic design
Helpful prior learning and learning objectives
Helpful prior learning:
Section 1.1.1 The economy and you which explains what an economy is and how it is relevant to students’ lives
Section 1.1.2 The embedded economy, which explains the relationship between the economy and society and Earth’s systems.
Section 1.1.3 Degenerative economies, which explains how our linear, extractive and ever-growing economic systems threaten social and ecological systems
Section S.1 Systems thinking, which explains what a system is and why systems thinking is useful. (coming soon)
Learning objectives:
describe the Unifying Patterns of Nature that support regenerative economic design
The Khasi tribe in northern India imitates nature to build living bridges from tree roots, connecting villages during the monsoon season (Figure 1). These unique bridges take years to grow. They become stronger over time and are able to withstand monsoon floods. They support diverse species of plant and animal life, integrating seamlessly into the ecosystem.
Figure 1. The living bridges of the Khasi tribe
(Credit: Vinayak Hegde CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
These living bridges are an example of biomimicry. Biomimicry is when humans observe nature and imitate its forms, structures and processes to develop human systems and products.
bio = life
mimicry = imitation
Humans and our economies are part of nature, not separate from it. Our economies must behave like natural systems if we want to survive and thrive in harmony with other humans and with all other life on Earth. Designers around the world take inspiration from nature to make better products and improve human interactions with each other and nature. We can create and renew the conditions that support life, just like the rest of the living world does.
How does nature work?
The Biomimicry Institute has identified a number of overlapping and connected patterns in nature that support its regenerative properties. These Unifying Patterns in Nature can help us think about some principles we can use to redesign our economies to be more regenerative.
Figure 2. Leaves using solar energy to make food
(Credit: Gexydaf CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Nature uses only the energy it needs
Nature uses only the energy and matter it needs from freely available renewable resources like sunlight and wind in order to find food, grow, and build shelter (Section 1.2.5)
Likewise, our economies must use renewable energies like solar, wind, hydropower and geothermal energy (Section 1.2.3) and local materials wisely (Section 1.2.4). Sharing resources enables us to use less energy and matter to efficiently meet our needs.
Figure 3. A decomposing log providing nutrients to a forest.
(Credit: Ib Aarmo CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Decomposing waste from plants and animals becomes food or materials for others through natural cycles like the carbon cycle (Section 1.2.6).
Our economies can minimise and recycle waste by designing systems and products that can return to biological cycles and technical cycles at the end of life in the circular economy (Section 1.4.2).
Figure 4. Predator-prey relationships keep animal populations in balance in ecosystems.
(Credit: B. Crawford CC BY 2.0)
Nature optimises rather than maximises
Nature avoids excess growth of biomass or populations because resources are also needed for survival and reproduction. There are natural limiting factors in ecosystems (Section 1.2.5).
Likewise, human economies should not grow forever and we must respect the limits of Earth systems. Meeting the needs of all within planetary boundaries requires that we optimise resource use for things that really matter (Section 1.3.5).
Figure 5. Many organisms exhibit mutualism
(Credit: Charles J. Sharpe CC BY-SA 4.0)
Nature provides mutual benefits
Organisms in nature often exhibit cooperative behaviour where interactions between organisms benefit all involved. This is called mutualism (Section 1.2.5).
Humans must also engage in mutualism with each other and with ecosystems. If we only take, and rarely give, our social and ecological systems will not be able to support human life long-term (Section 1.3.7).
Figure 6. Organisms provide feedback to each other to meet their needs.
(Credit: Randy Watson CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
and
is locally attuned and adaptive
Organisms and ecosystems send, receive and respond to information from their local surroundings to adapt and thrive. Reinforcing feedback and balancing feedback are important response mechanisms (Section S.x).
Human economic systems should also be responsive to environmental feedback, adapting to maintain balance and sustainability. Incorporating reinforcing and balancing feedback can help manage resources effectively and ensure resilience in the face of change.
Figure 7. Nature uses water-based chemicals and biodegradable forms.
(Credit: NOAA Photo Library CC BY 2.0)
Nature uses safe chemistry and materials
Organisms use chemical processes within and near their own cells, so must use water-based chemicals and structures that do no harm and are biodegradable.
Human economies should also use eco-friendly materials and processes to ensure economic activities do not damage Earth’s systems and support ecological balance.
Figure 8. Nature uses abundant and local resources for its forms and processes.
(Credit: Kyle Hovey CC BY-ND 2.0)
Nature uses abundant resources
Nature relies on local and plentiful resources. The most common materials used in nature come from the most abundant elements: carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen (Section 1.2.6).
Human economic systems should prioritize local, abundant resources and minimise waste (Section 1.2.4), mimicking nature's efficient use of materials and energy to respect Earth system limits.
Figure 9. Nature’s efficient forms follow function
(Credit: Loury CC BY-SA 4.0)
Nature uses form/shape to achieve function
Nature uses appropriate forms / shapes to achieve needed functions. This minimizes the energy needed to survive and thrive. In almost every case, a form you can identify in an animal or plant has a particular function.
Human product designs can mimic nature’s efficient forms to meet human needs with fewer materials and energy.
Figure 10. Nature can recover after a disturbance.(Credit: Phyllis Cooper CC0)
Resilience is the ability to recover after disturbances or significant changes in the local environment like fires or floods. Natural systems are diverse, redundant, decentralised, and self-renewing. These qualities enable natural systems to function even when disturbed.
Likewise, our economies should offer diverse products and services, from decentralised and redundant sources to ensure human needs can be met even during economic, social, and ecological shocks. We should create conditions that support self-renewal and repair.
Our economies are not separate from nature, but are a part of nature. Understanding Nature’s Unifying Patterns can help us design economic systems that are in balance with and regenerate the ecological and social systems we depend on, building resilience.
As Janine Beynus says in the video below, “a sustainable world already exists, we are now just beginning to open our eyes and realise that the answers to the questions we've been asking -- how do we live here sustainably? -- are all around us." The next sections will explain regenerative economic design in greater detail.
Activity 1.4.1
Concept: Regeneration
Skills: Research skills (information literacy), communication skills
Time: Varies depending on option
Type: Individual, pairs or larger group
Option 1: Diving deeper into Nature’s Unifying Patterns
40+ minutes, depending on how much sharing there is
Choose one of the following unifying patterns of nature. Use the provided link to the Biomimicry Institute’s website to learn more about that pattern of nature, and some of the applications of that principle in human design contexts.
Make some notes on what you read and be able to explain the unifying pattern and some applications to one or more partners, who can share what they learned with you.
Nature uses only the energy it needs and relies on freely available energy
Nature is resilient to disturbances
Nature tends to optimise rather than maximise
Nature provides mutual benefits
Nature is locally attuned and responsive
Nature uses chemicals and materials that are safe for living beings
Nature builds using abundant resources, using rare resources only sparingly
Nature uses shape to determine functionality
If students are working in a class group, and you have more than 40 minutes to spend on it, this activity could be organised as a Jigsaw, with expert groups focusing on one unifying pattern of nature to teach other students in the jigsaw group.
Option 2: Discussion
25 minutes
The text makes the claim near the start that Nature’s Unifying Patterns overlap and are connected. With the list of the patterns in front of you, take 5 minutes to consider connections and overlaps between the patterns. After the 5 minutes, discuss with a partner or as a larger class, documenting ideas as you go.
Why is it important that Nature’s Unifying Patterns are connected and overlapping?
Ideas for longer activities, deeper engagement, and projects are listed in Subtopic 1.5 Taking action
Checking for understanding
Further exploration
Ask Nature - a website has an amazing list of biological strategies that can be used to apply nature’s forms, functions and processes to a design challenge. Difficulty level: easy-medium
Biomimicry Toolbox - a resource from the Biomimicry Institute with great support materials to learn more about biomimicry. Difficulty level: easy-medium
Youth Design Challenge - a yearly design competition for secondary school students where you can design a solution to solve a problem using biomimetic principles. Difficulty level: easy-medium
Sources
Biomimicry Institute. (n.d.). Biomimicry Toolbox. https://toolbox.biomimicry.org/
Watson, J., and Davis, W. (2020). Lo-Tek: Design by Radical Indigenism. Taschen.
Terminology (in order of appearance)
monsoon: a seasonal wind in the region of South and South East Asia, bringing heavy rain between May and September
ecosystem: the interaction of groups of organisms with each other and their physical environment
biomimicry: when humans observe nature and imitate its forms, structures and processes to develop human systems and products
system: a set of interdependent parts that organise to create a functional whole
economy: all the human-made systems that transfer and transform energy and matter to meet human needs
regenerate: to restore or strengthen ecosystems or social systems
renewable resource: natural resources that can be regenerated in a human timescale
renewable energy: energy from sources that are continuously available or regenerate quickly
hydropower: a renewable energy source that uses falling or running water
geothermal energy: a renewable energy source that uses the heat produced inside the Earth's crust
energy: the ability to do work or cause change
matter: anything that takes up space and has mass
efficiency: the ratio of resource inputs compared to outputs
decompose: to break something into smaller parts, especially organic materials
carbon cycle: the movement of carbon between Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere
biological cycle: the part of the circular economy that involves biodegradable materials
technical cycle: the part of the circular economy that involves non-biodegradable materials
circular economy: an economic system where nature is regenerated and materials are kept in circulation through maintenance, reuse, recycling, composting, and other processes
biomass: organic matter
limiting factor: an abiotic or biotic factor that limits the size of a population of organisms
planetary boundaries: the limits of human disturbance to the nine Earth systems that sustain all life
optimise: make the best use of something
mutualism: an interaction between organisms where both organisms benefit
reinforcing feedback: a situation where change in a system causes further changes that amplify the original change which can lead to tipping points in a system
balancing feedback: a situation where feedback produces change in the opposite direction
feedback: when outputs of a system circle back to impact inputs to the same system
resilient: able to recover after a disturbance
biodegradable: able of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms and returning to Earth's biological systems
redundant: something that is repetitive, not necessary under normal circumstances, but useful in unusual circumstances
decentralised: located away from a center, especially having dispursed powers or functions
sustainable: meeting human needs within planetary limits