Man kind takes pride in finding intelligent ways to overcome obstacles without realizing that the solutions are already available in nature. We have to turn to the living world; natural wisdom was shaped through millions of years of evolution, perfecting products and processes for specific functions. For ages, For ages, mankind neglected the lessons to be learned from nature .. Janine M. Benyus, graduate of Rutgers University with degrees in forestry and writing, articulates both current and future applications of natural solutions in her highly inspirational Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature.

According to Benyus, nature is a mentor: “Biomimicry is a new science that studies nature’s models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems.” She provides a plethora of examples from Velcro to the amazing properties and potential uses of spider silk, mussel nacre, blue mussel byssus (fibers used for adhering to solid surfaces) and many others. She points out that the combination of rather random assemblages and repeated or crystalline molecules gives the strength to spider silk and mussel byssus; spider silk, an organic polymer, has more tensile strength than steel and is more flexible than rubber. If profitable mass production can be achieved by materials scientists, Benyus says. Fabric woven from spider silk would be more bulletproof than Kevlar and more waterproof than Gore-Tex.

Benyus also comments on biomimetic approaches in sustainability, industry and economics. She says: “Biomimicry uses an ecological standard to judge the ‘rightness’ of our innovations. After 3.8 billion years of evolution, nature has learned: What works. What is appropriate. What lasts.” In industrial ecology, one industry’s waste becomes another industry’s raw
material imitating ecological cycling of materials.

After reading Benyus’ book, I have become a strong supporter of these ideas. Biomimicry has become my way of viewing and appreciating nature. The transition will be slow but we’re eventually going to have to adopt a more biomimetic lifestyle. Benyus’ wonderful work woke me up from “the synthetic illusion.” The land and we were one; we shall unite once again.