7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
1/65
Sustainability Frameworks and
Tools
Lecture 6
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
2/65
Frameworks & Tools Frameworks: general view of how to implement sustainability
Natural Systems Behavior (General)
The Natural Step (General)
Natural Capitalism (General) Industrial Ecology (Industry)
Biomimicry (Design)
Factor 4 and Factor 10
The CERES Principles (General)
The Hannover Principles (Built Environment)
LEED?
Tools: methods of determining where we are, how we are doing, and how to makedecisions Ecological Footprint
Ecological Rucksack
Ecoefficiency
Ecolabeling
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Life Cycle Costing (LCC)
Environmental Management and Auditing Scheme (EMAS)
ISO 14001
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
3/65
Ceres Principles
Protection of the
biosphere
Sustainable use ofnatural resources
Reduction and
disposal of wastes
Energy conservation
Risk reduction
Safe products and
services
Environmentalrestoration
Informing the public
Managementcommitment
Audits and reports
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
4/65
Hannover Principles
Rights of humanity and
nature to co-exist
Interdependence between
humans and nature
Respect relationships
between spirit and matter
Responsibility for
consequences of design
Safe objects of long-term
value
Eliminate the concept of
waste
Rely on natural energy
flows
Understand the limitations
of design
Share knowledge for
constant improvement
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
5/65
Biomimicry
Term coined by Janine Benyus in a book ofthe same name in 1997
Definition:
The conscious emulation of lifes geniusInnovation inspired by nature
Doing it natures way
A potential framework for sustainabledevelopment and industry
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
6/65
Biomimicry (Benyus)Ten lessons Four steps to a biomimetic future
1. Quieting: immerse ourselves in nature
2. Listening: interview the flora and fauna of ourown planet
3. Echoing: encourage biologists and engineers to
collaborate, using nature as model and measure
4. Stewarding: preserve lifes diversity and genius
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
7/65
Biomimicry (contd)
With respect to materials, nature has four
approaches
1. Life friendly manufacturing processes
2. An ordered hierarchy of structures
3. Self-assembly
4. Templating of crystals with proteins
Bottom line: nature sets the precedents and
humans must follow
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
8/65
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
9/65
www.biomimicry.org
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
10/65
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
11/65
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
12/65
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
13/65
Natural Capitalism, Creating the Next Industrial Revolution, Hawkens
et al.,1999
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
14/65
The Natural Step
A Global
Framework
for Sustainable Development11/25/00
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
15/65
The Purpose of The Natural Step
To develop and share a common framework comprised
of easily understood, scientifically-based principles that
can serve as a compass to guide society toward a just and
sustainable future.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
16/65
The Natural Step Created by Karl Henrik-Robrt, a Swedish oncologist, in 1989. He
noted the connection between human illness and toxics in theenvironment.
Developed in collaboration with 50 Swedish scientist, 21 iterations
Provided to every household and school in Sweden
Based on Four Systems Principles
TNS formed 20 independent professional networks:Doctors for theEnvironment, Farmers for the Environment, etc.
The networks share the Four Systems Principles and coreknowledge about how to transform their profession and its
organizations
http://www.naturalstep.org/events_and_resources/events.html7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
17/65
Beginnings
The Karl-Henrik Robert Story
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
18/65
A Systems Perspective Emphasizes:
Focusing upstream
Principles rather than details
Shared framework and a common language
Necessary (non-negotiable) system conditions
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
19/65
Science Principles:
Matter and Energy cannot be created or destroyed (the
Conservation Law, or 1st Law of Thermodynamics)
Matter and Energy tend to spread spontaneously (Entropy,or the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics)
Biological and Economic value (quality) is in
concentration and structure (order) of matter (this is what
we consume)
Green cells are essentially the only natural net producer of
concentration and structure (Photosynthesis)
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
20/65
Sustainabilitya systems
perspective
Matter and energy can only be transformed.(Newtons 1st Law of Thermodynamics-Conservation of Matter and Energy)
The earth is a closed system with respect to
matter.
Energy enters the system as solar energy,
leaves as heat radiation.
i.e. nothing disappears Earth has same mass as 4.5.billion years ago
carbon in your body in dinosaur
fuel in your car doesnt disappear
Matter & energy do not disappear
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
21/65
Sustainabilitya systems
perspective
Matter & energy tend to disperse All processes irreversibly disperse matter (and energy)
into ever more chaotic states.
Newtons 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
(Law of Entropy)
i.e. everything disperses
car to rust, carpet to dust, ink in water, etc.
QuickTime and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see thispicture.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
22/65
TNS System Conditions for
A Sustainable Society
concentrations of substances
extracted from the earth's crust
concentrations of substancesproduced by society
degradation by physical means
and, in that society
people are not subject to
conditions that systematically
undermine their capacity to meet
their needs or the needs of future
generations.
In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing:
1
2
3
4
4
3
2
1
Slide provided by TNS Canada
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
23/65
Four System Conditions
Substances from the Earths crust must not systematically
increase in the biosphere.
Substances produced by society must not systematically increase
in nature.
The physical basis for the productivity and diversity of nature
must not be systematically deteriorated.
There needs to be fair and efficient use of resources with respect
to meeting human needs.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
24/65
System Condition No. 1
Substances from the Earths crust must not
systematically increase in the biosphere.
This means: fossil fuels, metals and other minerals must
not be extracted at a rate faster than their redeposit and
reincorporation into the Earths crust.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
25/65
System Condition No. 2
Substances produced by society must not
systematically increase in nature.
This means:
substances must not be
produced faster than
they can be broken
down and bereintegrated into the
cycles of nature or be
deposited into the
Earths crust.
HALOGENATED
COMPOUNDSchlorodifluoromethanechlorotrifluoromethanedichlorofluoromethanechloromethanetrichlorofluoromethanedichloroethyleneFreon 113methylene chloride
chloroform1,1,1-trichloroethane
carbon tetrachloridetrichloroethylenechloropentanechlorobenzeneiodopentane3-methyl-1-iodobutanechloroethylbenzenedibromodichloromethanedichlorobenzenechlorodecane
trichlorobenzene
ALDEHYDES
acetaldehydemethyl propanaln-butanalmethyl butanalcrotoaldehyden-pentanaln-hexanalfuraldehyden-heptanal
benzaldehyden-octanal
phenyl acetaldehyden-nonanalmethyl furaldehyden-decanaln-undecanaln-dodecanal
KETONES
acetonemethyl ethyl ketonemethyl propyl ketonemethyl vinyl ketoneethyl vinyl ketone2-pentanonemethyl pentanonemethyl hydrofuranone2-methyl-3-hexanone4-heptanone3-heptanone
2-heptanonemethyl heptanonefuryl methyl ketoneoctanoneacetaphenone2-nonanone2-decanonealkylated lactone
phthalide
OXYGENATED
ISOMERSC4H6OC4H8OC5H10OC4H6O2C6H12OC7H10OC7H14O2C6H6O2C6H14O2C6H16O
C7H8O2C7H10O2C9H18OC8H6O2C10H12O2C10H12O2C10H14OC10H16OC10H18OC10H20O
C10H22O
C9H8O2C11H20O
ALCOHOLSmethanolisopropanoln-propanol1-butanol1-pentanolx-furfuryl alcohol2-ethyl-1-hexanol phenol
2,2,4-trimethylpenta-1,3-diolx-terpineol
ACIDSacetic aciddecanoic acid
SULFER COMPOUNDS
.
.
.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
26/65
System Condition No. 3
The physical basis for the productivity and
diversity of nature must not be
systematically deteriorated.
This means: the productive surfaces of nature must not be
diminished in quality or quantity, and we must not harvest
more from nature than can be recreated or renewed.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
27/65
System Condition No. 4
There needs to be fair and efficient use of
resources with respect to meeting human
needs.
This means: basic human needs must be met with the most
resource efficient methods possible, including equitable
resource distribution.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
28/65
Applying the System Conditions
How can we reduce our dependence on mining and fossilfuels?
How can we reduce our dependence on persistent,unnatural substances?
How can we reduce our dependence on nature-consumingactivities?
How can we increase our resource efficiency(do more with less)?
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
29/65
Applying the System Conditions
Does this Decision: Yes No
reduce our dependence on mining and fossil fuels?
reduce our dependence on persistent unnaturalsubstances?
reduce our dependence on nature-consuming activities?
increase our resource efficiency?
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
30/65
Backcasting
One method for changing the way people think about sustainability is
something people at The Natural Step call backcasting. Backcasting isframing goals with regard to a future desired outcome, and
determining short-term decisions and investments needed to achieve
that future.
How does systems thinking tie into backcasting? According to this
model, systems thinking means discovering, mastering, and adhering
to the overall principles of a system. Once a person masters the
principles, they can get more and more skilled at handling the details.
In a sense, the principles help people to stay on course as they process
the myriad bits of information and decisions involved in long-term
planning. If they lose sight of the principles, they will most likelyfail, especially if their goal is complex.
Backcasting is used for Goal Setting, Strategic Planning, Innovation, Envisioning Scenarios,
Lateral Thinking, Competitive Advantage, Marketing & Resource Efficiency management
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
31/65
Step-By-Step
TNS advocates a step-by-step implementation strategy. Organizations are not
expected to achieve long-term goals immediately. On the contrary, they are
encouraged to move systematically by making investments that will provide
benefit in the short-term, while retaining a longer-term perspective. They can
use the Natural Step to map out a series of steps that will eventually lead to
full sustainability. Organizations using TNS are encouraged to start with the
"low hanging fruit", those steps that are easiest to take and will achieve results
that help move an organization closer to its goals. The Natural Step is notprescriptive, and does not judge. Instead, it serves as a guide.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
32/65
Applying The Natural Step to Business
The economy and the environment are linked.
It has long been held that the environment is a subsidiary of theeconomy.
It is now becoming understood that the economy is really a subset of theenvironment.
Natures limits have consequences.
Understanding these limits allows for more effective planning.
Such planning results in ecological benefits and long-termcompetitive advantage.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
33/65
Corporate Adopters of TNS
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
34/65
Electrolux
Largest appliance maker in the world.
Initially pressured by a large customer. Now TNS is part of corporate strategy.
Sales of environmental appliances has
doubled.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
35/65
IKEA
Largest furniture company in the world.
Educating 25,000 employees worldwide. Developed a four year plan.
Created a furniture line that meets all
system conditions.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
36/65
Interface
Worlds largest commercial floor covering
company.
First U.S. company to adopt TNS principles.
Goals: Zero waste & no oil from the ground.
Saved $25 million in first two years.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
37/65
Collins Pine
143-year old NW forest products firm.
Long history of sustainable forestry practices.
Training 600 Klamath Falls employees.
Using TNS principles for all capital purchases.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
38/65
Company Best Practices
Best start: senior management commitment.
Educate all employees.
Start with low hanging fruit.
Incorporate into long-term planning.
Set & measure long-term goals.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
39/65
The Evolution of TNS
in a Company Awareness - That the environment is now inseparable fromcompetitiveness and success.
Knowledge - Number one measure of success is employee
education. The more people educated, the greater the success ofthe program.
Practice - If it doesnt reach this level, it is a failure; but TNSmust not tell companies what to do, or it becomes just anorganizational or management consultant.
Goals & metrics - If it isnt measured it wont count. But if onlyoutflows are measured, environmental metrics will not lead toenvironmental success. (ISO 14000, EMAS, BS 7750)
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
40/65
Tools
Ecological Footprint
Ecological Rucksack
Eco-Efficiency
Eco-Labels: covered in last class.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
41/65
Ecological Footprint
R d ti it f l
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
42/65
Resource productivity: more from less
More benefit out of less material and energy
More welfare with less environmental damage
Unsustainable level of naturalresource consumption
Carrying capacity of natureexceeded already
Total material consumption
steadily growing Consumption distributed unequally
increasing poverty problems
increasing social problems
around the worldSource: Wuppertal Institute
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
43/65
Lets consider a simple french fry.
What impact
doesit have?
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
44/65
How did the fry get toBobs Burger Shop?
Producer
Distribution Center
Processing Plant
Suppliers
Bobs Burger Shop
Truck
Truck
Truck
Truck
http://www.rprogress.org/
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
45/65
What impact did its journey have?
Producer
Distribution Center
Processing Plant
Suppliers
Bobs Burger Shop
Truck
Truck
Truck
Truck
Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels
Freezer
Fertilizers
Pesticides
Machinery
Hydropower
Fossil Fuels
Machinery
Fossil Fuels
Packaging
Hydroflourocarbons
Irrigation
Hydropower
Freezer
Food waste
Machinery
Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels
Hydroelectric dam
FossilFuels
Animal Feed
Irrigation
Seeds
http://www.rprogress.org/
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
46/65
What impact did these impacts have?
Runoff
AirPollution
Loss of
Biodiversity
Solid
Waste
Air
Pollution Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels
Freezer
Fertilizers
Pesticides
Truck
Truck
Machinery
Hydropower
Truck
Fossil Fuels
Machinery
Fossil Fuels
Damage
To Ozone
Packaging
Hydroflourocarbons
Irrigation
Hydropower
Freezer
Food waste
Machinery Producer
Distribution Center
Processing Plant
Suppliers
Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels
Truck
Hydroelectric dam
Loss of
Biodiversity
Fossil Fuels
Animal Feed
Loss of
BiodiversityIrrigation
Seeds
Fossil Fuels
Bobs Burger Shop
Air
Pollution
http://www.rprogress.org/
How might all of this affectForests Forests
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
47/65
How might all of this affect
the earths systems?
Runoff
Air
Pollution
Loss of
Biodiversity
Solid
Waste
Air
Pollution Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels
Freezer
Fertilizers
Pesticides
Truck
Truck
Machinery
Hydropower
Truck
Fossil Fuels
Machinery
Fossil Fuels
Damage
To Ozone
Packaging
Hydroflourocarbons
Forests
Irrigation
Forests Built-up Land
Grazing Land
Forests
River
Cropland
Hydropower
Freezer
Food waste
Machinery Producer
Distribution Center
Processing Plant
Suppliers
Bobs Burger Shop
Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels
Truck
Hydroelectric dam
Loss ofBiodiversity
Fossil Fuels
Built-up Land
Animal Feed
Loss of
BiodiversityIrrigation
Seeds
Air
Pollution
Forests
http://www.rprogress.org/
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
48/65
And that was just the potato! Consider all the other
parts of your meal the other foods
the utensils
the napkins
the condiments
the drinks
There are multipleenvironmental impactsinvolved in these as well.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
49/65
There are social impacts, too.
Who did the work that
brought the food to
your table?
Under what conditions
did they work?
E h i k h
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
50/65
Every choice we make has an
impact on the planet. An ecological footprint
is a tool to measure ourenvironmental impact.
It tracks how muchindividuals, organizations,cities, regions, or nationsas a whole consume andcompares this amount to
the resources nature canprovide.http://www.footprintnetwork.org
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
51/65
How big is your footprint?
There are currently about
6.7 billion people on the
earth.
Do you believe that theplanet has the capability
to support your lifestyle
for everyone?
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
52/65
Lets find out!
In the following activity, youwill be guided through a
series of questions that will
be used to estimate your
ecological footprint. After you have completed the
Quiz, you will record the
result and then take the quiz
twice more, making
modifications as directed.
Select the l ink above to take
the quiz. When youre done,c lose the pop -up w indow and
return to th is websi te
Click here to begin.
http://www.myfootprint.org/7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
53/65
Results - Your Current Lifestyle
According to this
website, if everyone
lived like me, we wouldneed _________ planets
to support humanity.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
54/65
Ecological Footprint
The Ecological Footprint measures the
amount of nature's resources an individual,
a community, or a country consumes in agiven year, normalized to a unit of land
area, most often hectares
Coined in 1992 by William Rees a professorat the University of British Columbia in
Vancouver, Canada
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
55/65
Concept of Ecological Footprint
The quantity of
bioproductive land
that is required to
support currentconsumption
food, housing, transport,
consumer goods,services
Includes land needed for
absorption of waste
Wackernagel and Reese, Our Ecological Footprint
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
56/65
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
57/65
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
58/65
Ecological Rucksack
Ecological Rucksackis the total quantity (in
kg) of the natural material that is disturbed
in its natural setting and thus considered thetotal input in order to generate a product -
counted from the cradle to the point when
the product is ready for use - minus theweight (in kg) of the product itself.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
59/65
Ecological Rucksack
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
60/65
Quantfied Ecological Rucksack
Steel: 21 (One kilogram of steel carries an
ecological rucksack of 21 kilograms.)
Aluminum: 85 Recycled Aluminum: 3.5
Gold: 540,000
Diamond: 53,000,000
Rubber: 5.
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
61/65
Ecological Rucksack
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
62/65
Ecological
Rucksack
Diagram
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
63/65
Some other ecological rucksacks
Coffee maker 298 kg
toothbrush about 1.5 kg
plastic bucket 26 kg
silver chain 20 kg12 wine glasses 6 kg
5-gram gold ring 2000 kg
wooden beads 0.5 kg
(Simonen 1999)
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
64/65
Plastic or Cotton Bag?The plastic bag (PE plastic, 18 g) has the following ecologicalrucksack: abiotic and biotic material 0.1 kg, water 1.17 kg, air
0.04 kg, earth 0 g.
The cotton bag (54 g) has the following ecological rucksack:
abiotic and biotic material 1.277 kg, water 214.704 kg, air
0.216 kg, earth 3.402 g. (Vh-Jaakkola 1999, Wuppertal
Institute)
If you use the cotton bag for a year and buy a plastic bag once
per year, which is the better buy?Use the Ecological Rucksack to determine the solution
7/28/2019 Biomimicry and Natural Capital
65/65