Biomimicry
From Future of Local Services to the Public
From Clayton, S. and Schultz, W. (April 2008) 'Local Government Horizon Scan 2015-30'
Summary
An increasing numbers of scientists, engineers and designers create new tools and processes based on the study of natural organisms and processes, and work to mimic nature’s efficiencies. The ‘design rules’ of this natural paradigm are:
- Nature runs on sunlight
- Nature uses only the energy it needs
- Nature fits form to function
- Nature recycles everything
- Nature rewards cooperation
- Nature banks on diversity
- Nature demands local expertise
- Nature curbs excesses from within
- Nature taps the power of limits.
Increasingly, human organizations and communities apply these rules to localize decision-making, cut waste, enhance sustainability and draw insights from the cultural diversity within their populations.
