Yuma Soares Langenbach shines her light on ethically good biomimicry.
Learning from nature does not explicitly lead to sustainable or regenerative solutions. We need to be intentional with our designs to make sure that they actually do support nature as well as our needs.
Ethically good biomimicry includes all three seeds of biomimicry:
- Emulate: the copying of nature’s forms, recipes, processes and systems
- Reconnection: the interdisciplinarity and connecting between humans and the rest of life
- Ethos: the conscious practice of creating conditions conducive to life
Many researchers, philosophers and educators have identified that biomimicry is more than just copying nature, it is an ethical practice shaped by sustainability, humility, systems thinking, and pedagogy (Estadieu et al., 2025; Linder & Huang, 2022; , 2024). Really “good” biomimicry necessitates reciprocity with nature, through mutuality, bioinclusion, and coexistence.
Biomimicry is still an emerging field, and in an attempt to develop our shared values, intentions and vision, I’ve started collecting some ethical principles we must consider in order to truly create conditions conducive to life.
The 10 Ethical Biomimicry Principle Guiding Questions
1. Are we solving the right problems?
Is the focus on societal and environmental challenges, not novelty alone? (Estadieu et al., 2025; Linder & Huang, 2022; Dhamdar et al., 2024)
2. Are we using nature as measure?
Do we evaluate our designs against ecological standards for what works, lasts, and fits planetary limits? (Dicks, 2017; Estadieu et al., 2025; Paniagua et al., 2024)
3. Do our designs favour regenerative outcomes?
Are we aiming for low or zero ecological footprint and positive social & environmental effects, not reduced harm alone? (Paniagua et al., 2024; , 2024; N., 2021)
4. Do we treat nature as mentor, not a mine to be extracted?
Do we draw insight without reinforcing anthropocentric mastery over nature?(Estadieu et al., 2025; McCormick & Thaddeus, 2025; Mead & Landrum, 2020)
5. Do we respect organism and ecosystem integrity?
Are we avoiding disrupting habitats, life cycles, or natural balances while studying or emulating biology? (Ersanli & Ersanlı, 2023; Estadieu et al., 2025)
6. Are we reconnecting and cultivating the right relationships with nature?
Are we practising biomimicry as belonging within nature? (N., 2021; MacKinnon et al., 2020; , 2024).
7. When we teach biomimicry, are we explicitly teaching about sustainability/regenerativity?
Do we always include sustainability and ethical responsibility, or clearly state when a course does not provide them? (Linder & Huang, 2022)
8. Do we practice interdisciplinary rigor?
Do we combine biology, design, and systems thinking so biomimicry goes beyond superficial imitation? (Moheb, 2025; Stevens et al., 2022)
9. Do we share knowledge and benefits justly?
Do we communicate findings clearly, collaborate openly, and orient projects toward social benefit and justice? (Ersanli & Ersanlı, 2023; Gopan & S, 2025)
10. Do we use humility and reflexivity?
Do we reflect on motives, likely harms, and whether what is possible is actually useful or responsible? (MacKinnon et al., 2020)
Reference list
- Aguilar-Planet, T., & Peralta, E. (2024). Innovation Inspired by Nature: Applications of Biomimicry in Engineering Design. Biomimetics, 9(9), 523. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9090523
- Broeckhoven, C., & Winters, S. (2023). Biomimethics: a critical perspective on the ethical implications of biomimetics in technological innovation. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 18. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/ace7a2
- Dhamdar, T. S., K, S., & Basavaraj, B. (2024). Advancing Innovation through Biomimicry and AI: Inspiration to Implementation. BIONATURE. https://doi.org/10.56557/bn/2024/v44i12013
- Dicks, H. (2017). Environmental Ethics and Biomimetic Ethics: Nature as Object of Ethics and Nature as Source of Ethics. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 30, 255-274. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-017-9667-6
- Ersanli, E. T., & Ersanlı, C. (2023). Biomimicry: Journey to the Future with the Power of Nature. International Scientific and Vocational Studies Journal. https://doi.org/10.47897/bilmes.1388402
- Estadieu, L., Fenn, J., Gorki, M., Höfele, P., & Müller, O. (2025). Bioinspired Approaches and Their Philosophical– Ethical Dimensions: A Narrative Review. Biomimetics, 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10090602
- Gopan, P. S., & S, J. (2025). BIOMIMCRY AND MANAGEMENT: A STUDY. International Journal of Research – GRANTHAALAYAH. https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v13.i3.2025.6032
- Ilieva, L., Ursano, I., Traista, L., Hoffmann, B., & Dahy, H. (2022). Biomimicry as a Sustainable Design Methodology—Introducing the ‘Biomimicry for Sustainability’ Framework. Biomimetics,. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics702003
- Linder, B., & Huang, J. (2022). Beyond Structure-Function: Getting at Sustainability within Biomimicry Pedagogy. Biomimetics, 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics7030090
- MacKinnon, R., Oomen, J., & Zari, P. M. (2020). Promises and Presuppositions of Biomimicry. Biomimetics, https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics5030033
- McCormick, E. L., & Thaddeus, D. (2025). Navigating a Climate in Crisis through a Biomimetic Epistemology. Enquiry The ARCC Journal for Architectural Research. https://doi.org/10.17831/enqarcc.v21i2.1241
- Mead, T., & Landrum, N. E. (2020). Bioinspiration as a guide for responsible management. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788971966.00021
- Moheb, E. A. (2025). Exploring Challenges, Limitations, and Opportunities in Integrating Biomimicry Principles into Design Education to Advance Sustainability Objectives. https://doi.org/10.22215/etd/2025-16397N., A. M. (2021). Biomimetics: An Approach to Enhance Sustainability – An Overview. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology. https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2021.36947
- Paniagua, S. A., Menezes, D. B., Murillo, M., Castillo Henríquez, L., & Baudrit, J. V. (2024). Nature-inspired innovations: unlocking the potential of biomimicry in bionanotechnology and beyond. Discover Nano, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-024-04153-y
- Stevens, L., Fehler, M., Bidwell, D., Singhal, A., & Baumeister, D. (2022). Building from the Bottom Up: A Closer Look into the Teaching and Learning of Life’s Principles in Biomimicry Design Thinking Courses. Biomimetics, 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics7010025