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By John Todd Ecological Design LIVING MACHINES BY JOHN TODD ECOLOGICAL DESIGN SYNAPSE.BIO | 1 by Biomimicry 3.8 TEXT PLACEHOLDER Cover Photo © John Todd Ecological Design by Biomimicry 3.8 A BIOMIMICRY CASE STUDY LIVING MACHINES BY JOHN TODD ECOLOGICAL DESIGN The commercialization story behind the wastewater treatment & water body remediation process that mimics natural wetlands. Published by Synapse by Biomimicry 3.8 Written by Biomimicry Business Intelligence © 2017 Biomimicry Advisory Services & Biomimicry 3.8. All rights reserved. © John Todd Ecological Design © John Todd BIOLOGY DESIGN Wetland ecosystems cycle and purify water Eco-Machines mimic wetlands to produce clean water 4 | SYNAPSE.BIO SYNAPSE.BIO | 5 Biomimicry (from bios, meaning life, FORWARD CONTRIBUTORS and mimesis, meaning to imitate) is & SUPPORTERS Forward a scientific design discipline that seeks 06 08 Biomimicry for Innovative sustainable solutions by emulating Business Opportunities nature’s time-tested patterns and EXECUTIVE INDUSTRY Biomimicry is not itself a strategies. product but a process, drawing 13 SUMMARY 17 OVERVIEW on strategies observed The core idea of Biomimicry is that nature, in natural organisms and practices in order to spark after 3.8 billion years of research and innovation. development, has already developed COMPANY COMMERCIALIZATION solutions to many of the problems facing OVERVIEW PROCESS & STRATEGY industry, government and agriculture. 23 26 Such problems include packaging, trans- portation, energy production, non-toxic chemistry, carbon sequestration, and crop FINANCIAL CONCLUSION production. 52 STRATEGY 56 6 | SYNAPSE.BIO SYNAPSE.BIO | 7 TEXT PLACEHOLDER Contributors & Supporters RESEARCH AND EDITING Jacques Chirazi, Managing Director & Senior Editor, Biomimicry Advisory Services Constanza Jozami, Editor Gabriel Canale, Editor Andrew Scanlon, Research Analyst Leon Wang, Research Analyst Jingting Shao, Research Analyst Xinyi Wang, Research Analyst ADVISORS Rosibel Ochoa, Executive Director, UC San Diego von Liebig Entrepreneurism Center Stuart Valentine, CEO, Centerpoint Investing Beth Rattner, Executive Director, The Biomimicry Institute Hazel Henderson, CEO, Ethical Markets Certified B Corp Katherine Collins, CEO HoneyBee Capital Jamie Brown Managing Partner, Biomimicry Switzerland Douglas Kot, Senior Sustainability Professional, DNV GL Beth Brummitt, CEO, Brummit Energy Nicole Miller, Managing Director, Biomimicry 3.8 8 | SYNAPSE.BIO SYNAPSE.BIO | 9 by Biomimicry 3.8 At Synapse by Biomimicry 3.8, we are dedicated to providing biomimicry intelligence that The ability to innovate is a key driver of productivity, competitiveness, and prosperity. informs, inspires, and empowers businesses to leverage nature’s genius in solving their own Innovation requires entrepreneurs to rethink their strategies and adopt new approaches innovation challenges. to their businesses, embracing new technologies and manufacturing opportunities that can be the difference between success and failure in the business world. By publishing biomimicry case studies that detail the commercialization stories experienced by biomimetic innovators, we hope to expose key insights and lessons learned about getting Biomimicry innovations are fertile hunting grounds for innovative business opportunities. the most value out of the biomimicry approach as evidenced by real world projects so that Due to this immeasurable potential, corporate executives, investors, policymakers, and others are better prepared to take advantage of nature’s 3.8 billion years of research and entrepreneurs across many industries look to this emerging field to drive sustainable development. growth. While these case studies are detailed, we have highlighted critical take aways throughout the But what are some powerful technology trends that can drive company success? What are document to provide at-a-glance learnings about market viability, the competitive landscape, the important factors that should be considered when trying to identify the next big trend? the environmental issues, industry drivers, biomimetic insights, and more. Whether you are Biomimicry’s inherent value lies in the answers it proposes to these questions. browsing or diving deep into the details, this case study will provide strategic insight for your next biomimicry project regardless of sector. SYNAPSE BY BIOMIMICRY 3.8 BIOMIMICRY ADVISORY SERVICES MISSION is a premium biomimicry intelligence and GET FULL ACCESS (BAS) is an independent financial market advisory service to help our innovative clientele research and advisory organization that BAS’ mission is to help leaders in the effect positive change by staying ahead of the ✓ Live & recorded webinars provides strategic advice and ongoing intel- commercial, public, and social sectors latest trends in biomimicry, empowering their ✓ Expert inquiry hours ligence on emerging biomimicry technol- develop a deeper understanding of teams, and filling their innovation pipelines. ✓ Latest biomimicry news ogies. BAS is a project initiative of Biomimicry biomimicry innovations and to provide Since 1997, Biomimicry 3.8 has been the global ✓ Biomimicry intelligence briefings Switzerland. a fact base that contributes to financial thought leader and consulting experts on decision making on these emerging biomimicry across sectors. technologies. 10 | SYNAPSE.BIO BiomimicryBusinessIntelligence.com TEXT PLACEHOLDER Executive Summary John Todd Ecological Design (JTED) is a Massachusetts-based sustainable water management company that designs and integrates natural systems for the treatment of wastewater and the remediation of degraded water bodies. The designs are based on robust ecological systems in nature that effectively cycle nutrients and water. Harnessing biodiversity and natural processes in the system allows JTED’s machines to treat the most difficult contaminants and human waste streams, meeting and surpassing regulatory requirements. 12 | SYNAPSE.BIO SYNAPSE.BIO | 13 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TEXT PLACEHOLDER Since it was founded in 1989, and reduce nutrient levels, only invested in constantly the company has worked bringing the water body back evolving the technology, on over 80 projects on five to ecological health. but also in making sure its continents and 11 countries. projects create a positive net These projects have dealt with As the company continues impact on both the community domestic and industrial waste to take on projects all over and the environment. JTED streams and remediation of the world, it currently focuses designs its ecological waste contaminated urban canals, on investing in research treatment systems to serve as storm water ponds, landscape and development to further an effective utility, an aesthetic features, and natural lakes. develop their tools and amenity, and a healthy habitat. JTED has experience deliv- processes. JTED tries to source ering global technical support their R&D investment from to natural water treatment clients as much as possible, INSPIRED BY NATURE projects in both rural and urban using their contributions to environments and in both solve challenges that the JTED’s success comes from warm and cold climates. The company faces. Each project applying time tested strate- company employs and adapts is financially independent and gies of natural processes and “living machines”, including self-funded, with additional creating mechanically simple their patented Eco-MachineTM, a resources coming from but biologically complex treat- cost-competitive living system clients as well as government ment systems. The individual that creates distinct treatment funds and research grants. projects solve the contamina- zones that use plants, microbial The company is completely tion challenges that companies species, fungi, beneficial sustainable with revenues of and communities face, but bacteria and aquatic species up to $1 million per year as JTED continues to aim beyond to convert “waste” into a each project can generate that with their vision to reinte- resource. For the remediation an average of $150,000s. grate human life back into the of water bodies, the company Key takeaways on JTED’s biological cycle with natural, offers Aquatic Restorers that success revolve around the safe, and effective systems. jumpstart the ecology of a company’s culture, practices, water body, digest sediments and vision. The team is not Ecological Design © John Todd Eco-Machine at The Omega Center in Rhinebeck, New York 14 | SYNAPSE.BIO SYNAPSE.BIO | 15 TEXT PLACEHOLDER Industry Overview WATER “Water as an asset class will, in my view, become The most important thing about water is that all living things eventually the single most important physical need it to survive. Water is an essential resource in almost commodity based asset class, dwarf ing oil, copper, all human activities, such as: growing and processing agricultural products, and precious metals.” food, manufacture of products, transportation, mining, construction, medicine and energy production. Willem Guitler, Citigroup’s Top Economist “Water is the petroleum for the next century” 2008 Goldman Sachs Report 16 | SYNAPSE.BIO SYNAPSE.BIO | 17 INDUSTRY OVERVIEW INDUSTRY OVERVIEW GLOBAL WATER USE BY SECTOR Source: Vital Water Graphics. UNEP, Nairobi (2002) GROWING DEMAND WATER RECYCLING According to The Global Compact Water Mandate, A more sustainable model of recycling programs that will have been no documented the demand for water among water usage is desperately allow them to use water more cases of human health AGRICULTURE industry and agriculture
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