Windows that prevent bird collisions by mimicking the UV-reflective qualities of spider webs; a train that travels faster, uses less energy and makes less noise after it was redesigned to resemble a bird’s beak; highly efficient wind turbine blades that mimic the bumpy edges of a whale’s flippers.
These are just three of countless examples of biomimicry – technologies inspired by forms, processes and systems found in nature. The discipline is no longer just an academic exercise. It has become an innovation tool that allows companies to develop a new class of products and services.
As I pointed out in my previous column, biomimicry is transforming the ways we design, produce, transport and distribute goods and services; and more and more companies are approaching Mother Nature for innovative ideas to help solve complex human problems.
One of these companies is Parker Hannifin, the global leader in motion control technologies.
“Biomimicry offers real, time-tested solutions,” says Peter Buca, vice president of technology and innovation at Parker Hannifin. “Because nature has had many attempts at these solutions, they require the lowest amount of energy, provide the most efficient investment and are most sustainable.”
Biomimicry is about asking how nature would solve a particular problem and finding its champion performer, Buca says.
Parker Hannifin took this approach five years ago, when it designed a ceramic-lined flexible hose based on the hexagonal shapes on a snake’s skin. The customer, a cement factory in Italy, had to shut down every two weeks to replace its worn-out pipes. Parker’s nature-inspired product, Cergom hose, provided years of usage instead.
“You don’t want to invest in solutions that have to be abandoned in the future,” Buca says. “Nature offers solutions that are practical and sustainable. As an industrial company, understanding that value is important to us.”
Parker Hannifin is not the only company that has begun to embrace biomimicry. The field has experienced significant growth over the past three years and has the potential to transform various industries, including manufacturing, IT and engineering, according a report by the Fermanian Business & Economic Institute, which tracks biomimicry activity.
Biomimicry patents, scholarly articles and research grants have increased by more than five times since 2000, according to the report. By 2030, the field could account for $425 billion of U.S. GDP and $1.6 trillion of total global output, the Institute estimates.
Already, lots of innovative and robust biomimicry concepts have proven their market value. Countless more can be scaled up once remaining technological issues have been resolved. Some exciting biomimicry applications currently under development include:
- A cement replacement that can help with reducing carbon emissions
- Pulsed jet propulsion that is modeled after jellyfish
- The next generation of LEDs designed after the nanostructured lens of a firefly
- Joints modeled after the necks of ants that enable devices to withstand extreme stresses
- High-capacity lithium batteries based on the packing design of pomegranate seeds
While biomimicry is still emerging and investors have not yet fully embraced the field, its potential impact cannot be overstated. It’s clear that entrepreneurs who understand nature is a treasure trove of innovation have an advantage in this Innovation Economy.
“Biomimicry brings us novel solutions that have evolved over 3.8 billion years,” says Janine Benyus, the world’s leading biomimicry expert. “They are just novel to us because we never looked at them as models before.”
Benyus has written a book about biomimicry and has given inspiring TED talks on the topic. She is the co-founder of Biomimicry 3.8, the global leader in biomimicry innovation consulting, professional training and online tools for nature-inspired design. The Montana-based organization has worked with clients that include Boeing Boeing, P&G, HOK, General Electric General Electric, Natura and Nike.
“Biomimicry has become an innovation method for both large and small companies,” Benyus says. “They used to bring us in to improve existing products. Now we are asked to help them create new ones.”
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