Biomimicry's Blueprint for a Circular Economy

As much as we hear about recycling in the media and the plastics crisis discourse, our economy throws 90% of the materials we use into landfills. And a recent CSIRO report reveals a stark truth for Australian readers: only 4% of materials in Australia are used in a closed loop, with the majority ending up as waste - half the global average.

I am a passionate advocate for a circular economy, but we need to be honest with ourselves. With 90+% of materials going into landfills, we're a long way off from being a recycling economy, let alone a circular one.

Even the term 'end-of-life' frames this part of the process as the end of that material's useful life when it could be captured, reprocessed, reused again, recaptured… and so on.

Our planet is now at a critical juncture where we have "reached peak plastic" amid a linear, resource-extractive economy. Our materials-blind economy is marked by a high volume of single-use materials that ultimately end up in landfills.

I know I've shared this image before, but it bears repeating:

For a closed-loop system (such as our planet) to remain in balance, all waste must be a food source for something else and metabolised without accumulation or resource depletion. Ecosystems fall out of balance when the waste being created grows exponentially or the ability to process that waste is diminished.

Given that our waste problem is a design problem, and it has been our human and tech-centric systems that have landed us in this mess, many innovators have turned to nature and biomimicry for inspiration.

Biomimicry shows us the way to a circular economy

Embracing biomimicry (a nature-inspired design that mimics nature's solutions for human-made problems) encourages the creation of products and systems designed with waste reduction in mind. This ensures that materials can be continuously cycled and repurposed — materials that come from nature and go back to nature.

Biomimicry offers transformative potential for tackling waste and improving human health. A biomaterials-based economy that adheres to circular principles promises to change our linear trajectory, creating products and systems designed for continual reintegration, not disposal.

Scientists, designers, and engineers have been developing some exciting innovations by emulating nature's efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability. Below, I explore the power of biomimicry to drive sustainable, circular materials systems that align closely with nature's way of processing resources.

A quiet biomaterials revolution is underway

Seaweed-based materials

Seaweed has gained considerable hype and attention for its rapid growth, carbon sequestration abilities, and minimal need for arable land. Companies like Sway and Notpla are leveraging seaweed to create plastic-free alternatives for flexible packaging and oil-resistant food containers.

Seaweed's resilience and regenerative qualities make it an ideal material for sustainable packaging solutions, especially in coastal communities where it can be cultivated sustainably. These applications are versatile, catering to various packaging needs while reducing reliance on fossil-based plastics.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)

PHA, produced by microorganisms feasting on organic waste, represents another biomaterial with significant potential. Unlike traditional plastics, PHA can be processed on existing plastic moulding machinery, is shelf-stable, and even dishwasher-safe.

Crucially, it breaks down naturally, offering a viable solution for items that typically end up in landfills, such as single-use containers and packaging. By creating products that microbes can decompose, we can close the loop in material lifecycles, ensuring that these items do not persist indefinitely in the environment.

Moulded pulp and fibre

Traditionally used for items like egg cartons, moulded pulp has evolved into a high-tech solution for various single-use applications. Companies like PulPac and Pulpex are scaling moulded fibre manufacturing through a new dry production method, offering a fast and water-efficient process.

With applications in food packaging, cutlery, and containers, moulded pulp products can now be produced rapidly and sustainably, making them an appealing alternative for brands looking to reduce their plastic footprint.

Self-healing materials

Self-healing materials take biomimicry's potential to a whole other level.

Inspired by the regenerative capabilities of biological tissues, the waste-free superpowers of these materials extend product lifespans.

Pioneered by Professor Benjamin Tee, these materials use embedded microcapsules or dynamic bonds that re-form after damage, much like the human skin heals.

Applications span from electronics to construction materials, offering a sustainable solution to the growing global e-waste problem. With nearly 62 million tonnes of e-waste generated worldwide in 2022 alone, such innovations could drastically reduce waste by enabling product repair rather than replacement.

Nature's closed-loop system is the model for waste-free design

In natural ecosystems, waste is a resource. Biomimicry encourages us to create materials and products that follow this paradigm, where all waste is either reused, recycled, repaired, or a nutrient for another cycle. This principle is particularly relevant in addressing plastic pollution. Plastics persist in the environment, infiltrating our air, water, and food chains.

Plastic recycling seems like a reasonable solution to our waste problem, until you realise that giving a third and fourth life to a material that is hazardous to human and ecosystem health isn't such a good idea. Research indicates that microplastics are now present in human blood, tissue, and even breast milk, underscoring the need for alternatives that bio-assimilate safely.

Biomimicry aligns with this need, pushing for materials that follow nature's blueprint. Designing materials that "come from nature and go back to nature" without leaving a toxic footprint is a crucial step in transforming the current materials economy. When biomaterials—such as seaweed-based packaging or biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)—are crafted to decompose without harmful residues, they can be integrated back into natural cycles, alleviating the burden on landfills and natural habitats.

The infrastructure challenge: Building end-of-life pathways for biomaterials

Despite promising developments, the commercialisation of biomaterials faces a daunting challenge: the need for suitable end-of-life pathways.

Composting, an ideal solution for biomaterials, remains inaccessible in many regions due to policy restrictions and gaping holes in our waste infrastructure .

In New South Wales, Australia, for example, regulatory policies restrict compostable packaging from being processed with other organic waste due to contamination concerns with substances like PFAS. Without designated systems to process compostable materials, these items risk ending up in landfills, where they degrade under anaerobic conditions, producing methane (a greenhouse gas that's a major cause of global heating) rather than soil.

For biomaterials to reach their full potential, governments must support infrastructure development and establish rigorous composting standards. Certification for biodegradable materials can ensure that only toxin-free, bio-assimilating materials enter compost systems, aligning industrial composting practices with the vision of a circular biomaterials economy.

A materials economy based on soils, not oils

Biomimicry provides a pathway to shift away from fossil-based materials toward nature-based alternatives that can break down into healthy soils. Many compostable biomaterials originate from food and agricultural waste or fast-growing feedstocks like seaweed, whose lifecycle sequesters carbon and sustains the soil ecosystem. When materials cycle through compost systems instead of remaining as pollutants, we not only reduce waste but actively contribute to the biocircular loop that supports ecological balance.

The (quiet) biomaterials revolution offers a rare chance to reshape our materials economy based on regenerative principles rather than extraction.

Our need for plastic-driven convenience is clogging up our arteries—both ours and nature's. Transitioning to a circular economy isn't merely an innovation challenge; it's a commitment to a systems-based approach that values planetary health alongside human convenience.

We have the solutions; now we need the political and commercial will to implement them

To realise the potential of a biomimetic circular economy, collaboration across the value chain is essential.

It's not enough to develop innovative biomaterials. These materials need a supporting infrastructure that allows them to commercially scale and be viable at the beginning of the value chain and then reintegrate into the ecosystem efficiently at end-of-life.

Policymakers, brands, and consumers must align to drive demand, establish rigorous composting standards, and create incentives for companies investing in biomaterials. The urgency of these changes cannot be overstated, as linear waste models continue to contribute to climate change, biodiversity loss, and human health issues.

The shift to a biomimetic, circular materials economy is already underway. With nature as our guide, we can replace extraction and waste with regeneration and renewal. Embracing this approach means rethinking everything—from packaging and product design to end-of-life processes and policy frameworks.

The time to act is now, and with biomimicry as our blueprint, a regenerative, circular economy is within reach.