The Test of Human "Creation"

Of all the materials we have read thus far concerning sustainability, renewability and recyclability, I feel the best ideas are down-to-earth in their complexity, literally. When it comes to creating items for human consumption, industry must begin asking itself, does this thing pass the same test Mother Nature requires of natural organisms. For me, the old saying “reinventing the wheel” comes to mind. Mother Nature has already invented the test and strategy humankind needs to ensure we sustain ourselves and our natural resources. And I’m not just talking about Biomimicry, although I find this science exciting and believe it will play a useful role in the future of sustainable science, I’m talking about a new common sense approach to “creation.”

Imagine a world where waste isn’t waste; a world where items renew themselves because they were created to do so. There is no need to wait for some complex invention that will make this world a reality. All we need to do is change how we choose to invent things. Specifically, we as a society must change our applications regarding the manufacturing of goods. In Cradle to Cradle, William McDonough and Michael Braungart compel us as a society to examine how we manufacture things, they urge to, “…leave aside the old model of product-and-waste, and its dour of offspring.” From cars to blenders, society must give human creations the same rigorist standard of sustainability that Mother Nature gives biological organisms. In nature, a successful organism comes from nature and returns itself completely once its life cycle is complete. In fact, it gives itself so another organism and a new cycle of create can begin anew. This ultimately creates a net positive effect. Now imagine a world that the same could be said about human creations.