Biomimicry in the Nordic Countries

• Main Authors: Lenau, Torben Anker, Orrù, Anna Maria, Linkola, Lilli
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: Nordic Council of Ministers 2018
• Subjects: /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/decent_work_and_economic_growth; SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth; /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/responsible_consumption_and_production; SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production; Norway; Iceland
• Online Access: https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/c1b427b6-56d5-4cfa-97a3-d4188cb5a218; https://doi.org/10.6027/NA2018-906; https://backend.orbit.dtu.dk/ws/files/182820564/Biomimicry_in_the_nordic_countries.pdf

The awareness of Biomimicry within the processes of design and development in Nordic companies are not well known. As a result, The Nordic Council of Ministers Working Group for Sustainable Consumption and Production in its efforts to contribute to the Nordic Environmental Action Plan 2013 - 2018 has called for this report to highlight Nordic forerunners in Biomimicry. The study conducted by Torben Lenau, Lilli Linkola and Anna Maria Orrù, will present a basis for planning further activities to leverage the possibilities for actors in biomimicry and to disseminate knowledge and methodology on if and how nature's solutions can provide environmental and competitive advantages in business development. The report is divided into three sections. Chapter 1 is an introduction into the field, motivations and background into biomimicry, a clarification of definitions into biomimicry and other bioinspired fields. Chapter 2 presents the results of the mapping study and a discussion of current actors and activities. Chapter 3 provides a series of recommendations. Results showed that over 100 organisations and almost 100 professionals from the Nordic countries are listed in the stakeholder map. Most actors were identified in Sweden (57 % of all actors listed). The number of actors identified and listed in Denmark, Finland and Norway was around the same in all of the three countries (DK 16%, FI 12% and NO 13% of all actors). Only three actors were identified in Iceland. Almost half of the activities were categorized as academic research and development, one third of the activities fell into category industry which includes a wide range of companies from design and architecture to business consultancy. Other two categories of actors were education and training, and forums and innovation platforms. Chapter 2 also provides a presentation of the European scene with approximately over 40 significant actors grouped into two families of bioinspired communities; those related to the Biomimicry Institute (USA), and those that are part ...