Sustainability assessments inspired by biological concepts

Novel technologies and materials systems in the fields of biomimetics, biodesign, and bio-based products hold great promise for sustainable development if contributing to sustainability is a planned goal of the bioinspired product.

As part of the methodological foundations for assessments, we analyzed the interface between biomimetics and sustainability research. Using the plant growth form liana as an example, we have analyzed existing biological concepts to sharpen the sustainability strategies of efficiency, consistency, and sufficiency and to derive practical design principles for more sustainable products.

This chapter introduces TAPAS as a new tiered methodological framework for prospective sustainability assessment. With TAPAS and its five stages of analysis, players in the innovation process can conduct autonomous, timely, and robust assessments to identify and minimize risks and to capitalize on opportunities.

We also present the Bioinspired Sustainability Assessment (BiSA), which is based on the fundamental characteristics of biological systems, namely the interplay between the functions provided and the resources required for these functions. BiSA summarizes the overall social, economic, and environmental aspects of intended functions and unintended burdens (= resource demands) and compares them with the respective reference.

A biological model or the use of a biological material does not necessarily guarantee a sustainable product. Nevertheless, a contribution to sustainability must be the goal of the development process. As shown, we can learn from biological models regarding sustainability in terms of the bioinspired sustainability assessments TAPAS and BiSA and thereby gain a deeper understanding of the sustainability strategies of efficiency, consistency, and sufficiency.