{"title":"Sustainability assessments inspired by biological concepts","authors":"Martin Möller , Thomas Speck , Olga Speck","doi":"10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102630","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47979,"journal":{"name":"Technology in Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":10.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X24001787/pdfft?md5=d250ec12ec1b7cc2e853edb545f5bede&pid=1-s2.0-S0160791X24001787-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Technology in Society","FirstCategoryId":"90","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X24001787","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"SOCIAL ISSUES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
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.
期刊介绍：
Technology in Society is a global journal dedicated to fostering discourse at the crossroads of technological change and the social, economic, business, and philosophical transformation of our world. The journal aims to provide scholarly contributions that empower decision-makers to thoughtfully and intentionally navigate the decisions shaping this dynamic landscape. A common thread across these fields is the role of technology in society, influencing economic, political, and cultural dynamics. Scholarly work in Technology in Society delves into the social forces shaping technological decisions and the societal choices regarding technology use. This encompasses scholarly and theoretical approaches (history and philosophy of science and technology, technology forecasting, economic growth, and policy, ethics), applied approaches (business innovation, technology management, legal and engineering), and developmental perspectives (technology transfer, technology assessment, and economic development). Detailed information about the journal's aims and scope on specific topics can be found in Technology in Society Briefings, accessible via our Special Issues and Article Collections.
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