The term biomimicry has shown up in a number of posts and served as a central theme in Paul Hawken’s The Ecology of Commerce. However, it remains somewhat nebulous as a concept. The December/January issue of National Wildlife contains an article titled “Mimicking Mother Nature.” Covering a range of inventions that mimic nature, the article [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Regenerative Economy’
Biomimicry: Looking to Nature
February 3rd, 2010 
Eric Wilson 
Posted in Eric Wilson, Green Products, Sustainability 
Tags: Biomimicry, Ecology of Commerce, Regenerative Economy 
No Comments »The Global Warming Debate: What’s Really Important
January 30th, 2010 Eric Wilson On one level I don’t care about global warming, because it doesn’t matter. On the other, I know it is an incredibly important concern, one that may have drastic effects on society. However, because it has become politicized and polarized, I have steered clear of it. I am a science teacher, but not entirely a [...]
The Coming Trouble With Clean Energy: Rare Earth Elements
December 27th, 2009 Eric Wilson Yesterday’s post about fake and real Christmas trees and menorahs developed out of several conversations during the holidays, but was precipitated by an article in The New York Times about the use of so-called rare earth elements in the manufacture of clean energy components. Cradle to cradle design would suggest that all materials used in [...]
Interface Inc: Using Lifecycle Assessments to Measure Product Impacts
December 2nd, 2009 Eric Wilson Last Saturday’s post, the second written about Interface Inc.’s steps toward becoming a sustainable company, highlighted InterfaceRAISE. This is the third post detailing Interface’s sustainability measures focuses on lifecycle assessments and further details the path that Interface has blazed. One of Interface’s main goals is to become a regenerative business. In order to do so, [...]
Interface Inc. Leading the Way in Sustainability
November 24th, 2009 Eric Wilson While many companies are just now bringing “green” and sustainable products to market (as discussed in an earlier post), Interface Carpet based out of LaGrange, Georgia has been a leader in the field, producing carpet in a sustainable fashion since 1994. Ray Anderson, founder and chairman of Interface Inc., recalls the days when he and [...]
Paper from Elephant Poo, Who Knew?
November 21st, 2009 Justin Manger Today’s post is about an off-the-wall and perhaps silly or gross but also clever way to use elephant dung. Yep, I’m not joking. Those straw-laden masses of excrement may wind up being processed into actual products thanks to the Great Elephant Poo Poo Paper Company. Anyway, squeamishness aside, the company’s unusual but creative way to [...]
Posted in Business, Conservation, Green Products, Justin Manger, Recylcing Tags: Cradle to Cradle, Humor, Regenerative Economy, Waste No Comments »Book Review: Paul Hawken’s The Ecology of Commerce
August 25th, 2009 Eric Wilson In his revolutionary 1993 book, The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability, Paul Hawken describes how companies and the country would benefit from taking a new approach to business. Hawken suggests that the climate in which businesses have operated cannot possibly continue. He points out the need for all products and energy sources to [...]
2 Upcoming Events from Rocky Mountain Institute
August 5th, 2009 Eric Wilson Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), one of the nation’s leading energy research firms and think tanks, is holding their “Revolutionizing Engineering: Better Design for a Better Tomorrow” lecture in Aspen, Colorado on August 11th. RMI poses the question, “What if something could be designed to run not one, not two, but ten times more efficiently—or more?” [...]
Timber’s Future: Sustainably Managed Forests
July 1st, 2009 Eric Wilson As mentioned at the end of yesterday’s post on Carleton Hart Architects and the Tualatin Valley Water District, today’s subject deals with another facet of Oregon’s Natural Step movement. Timber, at the heart of America’s expansion in the 19th century, represents a major opportunity in sustainable development. Although wood is a renewable resource, it has [...]
Three Portland, Oregon Businesses Employing The Natural Step
June 23rd, 2009 Eric Wilson The past few days 2nd Green Revolution has written about The Natural Step and companies in Oregon that are working to implement this sustainable approach to business. In today’s post we are highlighting a few more businesses and the steps they are taking to be more in line with natural systems. They include a cleaning [...]
