This month, Tom McKeag brings us accounts from two events that featured biomimicry, the practice of looking to nature for inspiration. In his account from the Bioneers conference, he writes about the Living Building Challenge, which has spurred energy-efficient buildings designs and operations that copy actions from the natural world.

While the Bioneers recap gives a look at how nature has influenced buildings, the San Diego Zoo's Biomimicry Conference featured a slate of product innovations in carpeting, electronic displays and items that move fluids, all of which used lessons from nature to reduce waste and provide efficiencies.

While some of the innovations and nature-based techniques have been around for years, the larger practice of biomimicry has only recently been gaining more momentum and notice, and it's important to note the proven benefits that can be gleaned from nature.

This guide illustrates how designers, manufacturers, and users of packaging should collaborate to optimise the performance of packaging while minimizing the risks of supply chain inefficiences.
 

Sun Microsystems site devoted to the company’s environmental standards in its design, operations and supply chain.

This hourlong webcast from GreenBiz.com and the Green Grid will explore the tools, techniques and training being used by data center operators around the world to improve energy efficiency and save operating costs.