We live in a world where environmental crises are frequent and the way we manufacture, consume and dispose of products has a profound impact on the places we live in. Imagine the amount of waste which fills up giant landfills near our large cities - for instance, there are over 500 landfill sites in the UK currently active - with some mitigation offered by recycling and green energy plants. We therefore ask ourselves what if nature, with its billions of years of evolution and innovation, held the key to a more sustainable future? This is where the word of biomimicry steps in – an exciting new approach that mimics nature's ingenious designs and processes to solve human problems.
Manufacturing towards harmony and minimise waste in skincare
Still today the majority of manufacturing is characterised by large-scale production, which per se isn’t a problem as sometimes efficiencies are found in the production at scale, however years of neglect in innovation has meant that some of this processes and supply chains are inherited unsustainable. But biomimicry offers a paradigm shift, focusing on designing manufacturing processes that are more efficient, resilient and harmonious with nature.
Take the humble spiderweb. This incredibly strong and lightweight material, far more efficient than steel, inspired the creation of bio-based plastics. Companies like Spiber, a Japanese firm, have engineered proteins similar to those in spider silk to produce fibers that are even stronger and more sustainable than synthetic ones. Similarly, bio-inspired adhesives derived from geckos, which can climb smooth surfaces effortlessly, offer cleaner, stronger, and more environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional adhesives. All these innovation can of course find a place in skincare and packaging and offer, not only a new and valid alternative but a possibility to the consumer to do more and support brands and their supply chains to invest more in the research and use of these new materials.
Sustainability in skincare
Skincare, too, is undergoing a transformation as biomimicry unveils the beauty of natural ingredients. However it still depends on the willingness of some brands to do well in this sphere and on the choice of the consumer to purchase these products rather than falling into the trap of unsustainable choices. If you think that gone are the days where products are not made using harsh chemicals and synthetic formulations you will be mistaken, as still many skincare brands still use these ways to manufacture their products, unfortunately. Price is always the king even for products that you are putting on your own skin, mainly because some of these unsustainable products often cost a fraction of what a sustainable and natural choice can offer. That is why, our choice, the choice of every single human being that buys any products has to be rooted in the ability to understand what is good but also fragile, as these sustainable ideas if not supported are prone to succumb to large and cheaper mass produced items.
Take seaweeds, for example, like the bladderwrack one, which we collect by hand and use in our soaps, it possesses remarkable moisturising properties and not just that. Their inherent ability to thrive in harsh marine environments, full of salts, cold waters and currents makes them rich sources of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds. These natural extracts offer a gentle, yet powerful solution for cleansing and moisturising the skin. This is a way in which we simply use the design and innovation that nature has done over the course of time and we encapsulate that in the skincare products we offer you.
But biomimicry's impact goes far beyond individual products and innovations. It emphasises a holistic approach that fosters a symbiosis between industry and the environment.
The concept of closed-loop manufacturing takes inspiration from natural ecosystems where waste is nonexistent, with every element recycled and reused. By adopting bio-based materials that are readily biodegradable, and developing manufacturing processes that mimic natural cycles of renewal, companies can reduce waste and resource consumption, creating a closed loop of production.
As we face increasingly complex environmental challenges, the ingenuity of nature provides invaluable solutions for skincare. Biomimicry compels us to learn from nature's brilliance, incorporating it into our own systems and designs, from packaging to cosmetics. It is a philosophy that not only guides innovation but also fosters a deeper appreciation and respect for the intricate web of life that sustains us.