Episode 43 Richard James MacCowan of Biomimicry Innovation Lab

Catherine Weetman talks to Richard James MacCowan, who helps people use biomimicry to design better materials, products, buildings, and cities.Richard is the Founder and Creative Director of the Biomimicry Innovation Lab, with a mission to inspire and share how the natural world can deliver unique solutions by radically reducing the need for resources. Richard kindly wrote a brilliant piece on Biomimicry for the 2nd edition of Catherine’s Circular Economy Handbook.We talk about different aspects of biomimicry and how it can inform the design of objects, systems and much more, including Structure and materials, Swarm behaviour, 3D Printing & termites, Self-repairing and ‘exotic’ materials - and why origami is useful!  Richard explains how nature uses structure for colour, which leads me to ask whether some of these developments are actually encouraging consumption. Podcast host Catherine Weetman is a circular economy business advisor, workshop facilitator, speaker and writer.  Her award-winning book: A Circular Economy Handbook: How to Build a More Resilient, Competitive and Sustainable Business includes lots of practical examples and tips on getting started.  Catherine founded Rethink Global in 2013, to help businesses use circular, sustainable approaches to build a better business (and a better world).Stay in touch for free insights and updates... Read on for a summary of the podcast and links to the people, organisations and other resources we mention. You can subscribe to the podcast series on iTunes, Google Podcasts, PlayerFM, Spotify, TuneIn, or search for "circular economy" in your favourite podcast app.  Stay in touch to get free insights and updates, direct to your inbox... Links we mention in the episode: * A Circular Economy Handbook: How to Build a More Resilient, Competitive and Sustainable Business * Biomimicry Innovation Lab https://biomimicryinnovationlab.com/ * Social Media - @biomimicryUK * https://biologydictionary.net/biomimicry/ with a few examples and quick quiz * More about the Logoplaste plastic bottle https://www.logoplaste.com/media/2282/logoplaste_case_study_vitalis_2018.pdf * 3D printing and termites Termites and 3D printing  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1LbWgePCgo&t=123s * https://biomimicry.org/zygote-quarterly/ * Dr Rupert Soar at Nottingham Trent University http...