From the Contrarian's Keyboard: PVC in Biomimicry
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.31.05
TreeHugger has oft cited the virtues of biomimicy as an inspiration for designers and manufacturers. Conversely,our posts have often derided all things PVC, with the exceptions of reclamation of waste vinyl to make new products and replacement windows. With that as our intro, lets take a visit to the gallery of recent micro-photography contest winners., presented by NikonSmallWorld. The one winning picture from it we've included here is a closeup of a velcro fastener. See any similarity to a burdock burr (check below the fold if you like)? To stimulate some more life cycle thinking we pose these choices. If you were designing an outdoor garment, which is most superior in all regards for a wrist fastener: 1.) a carved cow bone button, 2.) rubber elastic insert, 3.) a brass snap, or, 4.) velcro (as pictured)?
John makes ar eally good point. And that's why at Biomimicry Guild (www.biomimicry.net) we're trying to move toward more genuine biomimetic design.
We're encouraging our design clients to mimic not just FORM (the shape of the burrs), but also PROCESS (green chemistry), and even ECOSYSTEM mimicry, which would place the manufacturer in a food web with other industries. The goal is to design both product and manufacturing byproduct to be a welcome nutrient, rather than waste. (ala Cradle to Cradle)
Right now, Velcro only mimics form, and its manufactured and afterlife degrade rather than enhance place, proving that biomimicry of form is not enough. For more info, see http://www.biomimicry.net/faq.html.
Janine Benyus
Author, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature