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Miriam Pye: Biomimicry as a Brainstorming Technique
If you are looking for more evidence that biomimicry is a significant innovation trend with profound implications for sustainable economic growth, a brief chat with Miriam Pye will convince you. At least, it convinced Triple Pundit. Pye is a Senior Project Manager for Industrial Research at NYSERDA, the New York State Energy Research and Development [...]
Introducing The Da Vinci Index: Biomimicry and Economics
During an event at the San Diego Zoo Biomimicry, Dr. Lynn Reaser of the Fermanian Business & Economic Institute at Point Loma Nazarene University provided a unique look at The Da Vinci Index, the first economic index measuring activity in biomimcry and/or bio-inspired research and commercial application. Leonardo Da Vinci is also known to [...]
What the Folks at the Bottom of the Pyramid Can Teach Us
There was an article in Harvard Business Review last week by Deepa Prahalad entitled “Design Lessons from the Consumer at the Bottom of the Pyramid.” Deepa is the son of C.K. Prahalad, who, along with Stu Hart and Clayton Christiansen, popularized the notion of the base of the pyramid, meaning the economic stratum containing the [...]
Using Biomimicry, DARPA Creates Hummingbird-Like Spy Drone
If I had to pick a favorite U.S. Government agency, TheDefense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), would be it. It has a cool-sounding name and has worked on fascinating projects such as the Internet, developed GPS, held the über-cool DARPA Grand Challenge, and is currently working on interesting tech, like the ominously-named DARPA Silent Talk [...]
Aha! Sustainable Solutions are Right in Front of Our Eyes #3pVOTE
This post is part of our year-end “year in review” sustainable business writing contest. We’ve asked 3p readers to submit their own thoughts about the state of sustainable business in 2010. More information about the contest is available here. All submitted articles will be available on this page. Voting will happen in January! By Amy [...]
Green Beds Inspired by Nature: Oscar Valdemoros of Spaldin Sleep Systems
By Jonathan L. Gelbard, Ph.D. 3p recently spoke to Oscar Valdemoros, Managing Director of the Spanish company, Industrias Tobia, and the CEO of its North American subsidiary, Spaldin Sleep Systems about what makes these products sustainable. The slogan of Spaldin’s new line of mattresses, now available in Sleepy’s stores and at Sleepy’s.com is European Designed Luxury, Inspired by [...]
Biomimicry and Green Chemistry Collide
We know that green chemistry works. We know that biomimicry works. Is there a possibility that the two crossing will create good things? The more appropriate question may be: is there a possibility it won’t? Recently, Janine Benyus of the Biomimicry Guild and author of Biomimicry started doing business with John Warner, the father of [...]
Finisterre Finds Best Path to Staying Warm and Dry Is to Act Like an Otter
On any given day, you’re likely to find a small team of product designers, material developers and scrappy marketers holed up in a converted mine building in the town of St. Agnes on the North Cornwall coast—unless, of course, the surf is good. At those times, you’re more likely to see these folks, who operate [...]
Toward a “Green Ocean Strategy”
By Jacob Park Managers must start to recognize environmental improvement as an economic and competitive opportunity…it is time to build on the underlying economic logic that links the environment, resource productivity, innovation, and competitiveness. – Michael Porter What do SUVs, genetically modified organisms, and fast food all have in common? They’re all antithetical to sustainability…and [...]
Taking Cues from Birds to Green the Airline Industry
Stanford University research group takes biomimicry to whole new heights At this summer’s Airbus “Fly Your Ideas” competition, an international call for sustainability innovation in the airline industry, one Australian team of graduate students walked away with the first place cash prize of 30,000 euros for a green passenger cabin concept. Derived from castor oil, [...]
HOK Tops Annual Ranking as “Greenest Design Firm”
We first highlighted the global architectural and design firm HOK with our post last December covering the opening late last year of the new “sustainable” Indianapolis airport (pictured above), for which HOK was principal designer. Earlier this year we talked with Mary Ann Lazarus, HOK’s Sustainable Design Director, about the growing buzz over building efficiency [...]
Wrap-Up of Ray Anderson’s Talk at Sustainable Industries Economic Forum
Ray Anderson, founder and Chairman of Interface, gave the keynote address this morning at the Sustainable Industries Economic Forum. Anderson had a tough act to follow in this, the third Economic Forum put on by Sustainable Industries. Last year’s keynote was Van Jones, after all. Anderson quoted Einstein as he talked about the thinking that [...]
Are Emerging Markets the Best Place to Incubate Clean Technologies?
“Disruptive innovations are best incubated outside of the mainstream market,” proposes Cornell University’s Stuart Hart in a recent online Q&A session hosted by Greenopolis, the environmentally-focused social networking site. “It’s difficult for many companies to bring these next-generation, potentially inherent clean technologies forward on a commercial basis in established marketplaces,” Hart said, noting that incumbent [...]
Coolerado Cooling: A High Efficiency AC System for Commericial and Residential Buildings
March came in with a bang in much of the country. A major snowstorm blanketed the East Coast and the West Coast is receiving much-needed rain and snow, as well. But a Colorado company is receiving lots of attention these days for its innovative approach to air conditioning. We spoke with Rick Gillan, president of [...]
Mercedes Mimics Nature
Daimler Benz has taken German automotive engineering to the next level of emissions efficiency by engaging in a process called biomimicry, “the conscious copying of mechanisms from natural organisms and ecologies.” In this instance, Mercedes looked for naturally occurring examples of safety, comfort and aerodynamic efficiency. The specie best embodying these qualities for Mercedes’ purposes [...]
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Webinar: Feb 17Greening Stonyfield Farm: As a consultant with Stonyfield Farm for the past 12 years, Switzer Fellow Tim Greiner will discuss efforts to broaden and deepen sustainability within the company. He will discuss the company's efforts to track its environmental impacts, barriers the company had to overcome.
Webinar: Feb 29Product Scorecards for Sustainability: Product scorecards that detail and evaluate environmental and sustainability aspects of products are increasingly adopted by leading companies. This webinar covers the best practices in this area and a case study by Seventh Generation.
NY: Mar 19-20Wall Street Green: The longest running and most comprehensive environmental market event in the industry. The Wall Street Green Summit covers cutting edge content, industry developments and features the practitioners and the leaders of tomorrow.
Bay Area: Mar 22-23GRI Certified Training: Demand for sustainability experts is growing rapidly as companies look for proven professionals. For companies, GRI trained employees mean faster implementations and better use of the GRI Sustainability Reporting Framework. Join our partner ISOS group for this two day session. Early bird discounts apply!
SF: Mar 26-28Cleantech Forum San Francisco: The 2012 Cleantech Forum San Francisco will mark the 10th anniversary of Cleantech Forums, the annual gathering of the global clean technology innovation community. Our theme this year is “The Power of Global Partnerships,” an exploration of how strategic relationships are playing an ever more important role in the future of clean technology. For a $300 Discount use code "VIPofTriplePundit " More Info.
SF: April 10-12 Navigating the American Carbon World: The must-attend event for professionals in the carbon landscape. Over the past decade, NACW has consistently provided informative content, thoughtful discussions and outstanding opportunities for collaboration.
Have your event listed here.
Webinar: Feb 17Greening Stonyfield Farm: As a consultant with Stonyfield Farm for the past 12 years, Switzer Fellow Tim Greiner will discuss efforts to broaden and deepen sustainability within the company. He will discuss the company's efforts to track its environmental impacts, barriers the company had to overcome.Webinar: Feb 29Product Scorecards for Sustainability: Product scorecards that detail and evaluate environmental and sustainability aspects of products are increasingly adopted by leading companies. This webinar covers the best practices in this area and a case study by Seventh Generation.NY: Mar 19-20Wall Street Green: The longest running and most comprehensive environmental market event in the industry. The Wall Street Green Summit covers cutting edge content, industry developments and features the practitioners and the leaders of tomorrow. Bay Area: Mar 22-23GRI Certified Training: Demand for sustainability experts is growing rapidly as companies look for proven professionals. For companies, GRI trained employees mean faster implementations and better use of the GRI Sustainability Reporting Framework. Join our partner ISOS group for this two day session. Early bird discounts apply!SF: Mar 26-28Cleantech Forum San Francisco: The 2012 Cleantech Forum San Francisco will mark the 10th anniversary of Cleantech Forums, the annual gathering of the global clean technology innovation community. Our theme this year is “The Power of Global Partnerships,” an exploration of how strategic relationships are playing an ever more important role in the future of clean technology. For a $300 Discount use code "VIPofTriplePundit " More Info.SF: April 10-12 Navigating the American Carbon World: The must-attend event for professionals in the carbon landscape. Over the past decade, NACW has consistently provided informative content, thoughtful discussions and outstanding opportunities for collaboration.Have your event listed here.
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