Nature has developed incredible systems for managing waste, leading to healthier and more efficient ecosystems.
It’s not pretty, but waste is an inevitable byproduct of life. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and sometimes, the outcome is waste. Developments we’re making in health, technology, engineering, and practically every other industry have enabled our societies to advance exponentially. While this has led to incredible discoveries, many parts of the world have been left with the brunt of these innovations, crippled by overburdened waste streams and rampant environmental pollution. As some facets of our society evolve, others are falling further and further behind. How, then, do we address this inequity? How do we make strides in industry while also being conscious of the waste we leave behind? As always, nature’s ideas could be just the ticket. This collection explores the ways that nature manages, reduces, and reuses waste.
How does nature put energy-efficient chemical or physical processes to work to manage waste? How do species dispose of waste in more efficient ways or reduce the volume produced in the first place? Is one species’ trash another one’s treasure? Nature has developed incredible systems for managing waste, leading to healthier and more efficient ecosystems. Emulating nature’s strategies in human designs could uncover new solutions to our challenges with waste.
