Biomimicry Institute

We have the knowledge that we need to change our worldview, and yet we don't change. How do we change?

“It may seem simplistic to say, ‘Well, what we need is a different story.’ But what is it that has changed and guided us through history? It's stories. I can say, ‘I am going to live as if the world is a gift for which I need to be grateful, for which I need to reciprocate, for whom I am accountable.’

And if I change my mind, I can align my behaviors with that story.” – Robin Wall Kimmerer

As we AskNature for guidance through today's climate uncertainty Robin Wall Kimmerer joins us to explore cultural biomimicry and the beautiful braiding of western science with traditional ecological knowledge.

Tune in to Episode 2 of the AskNature Podcast to discover how shifting our narrative from exploitation to reciprocity can lead us toward true collective healing

Listen on all major streaming platforms: https://tr.ee/8g5oicJVkV

Some textiles are so mixed, stained and chemically treated that the system gives up on them. The Berlin-Brandenburg pilot refuses that ending.

​In the first pathway, polyester‑rich textiles from medical workwear, industrial cleaning cloths and fast fashion are shredded and depolymerised using matterr’s technology. What initially looked like waste becomes monoethylene glycol (MEG) and terephthalic acid- clean building blocks. Fraunhofer IAP then uses bacteria to convert MEG into PHB, a fully biodegradable polymer. Lab trials showed all 18 selected waste samples could be transformed, and PHB can be processed through techniques like injection moulding and 3D printing.

Building on these results, the team is exploring processes that can handle more mixed waste streams and produce a range of biopolymers, each with properties suited to different markets. This flexibility increases both efficiency and commercial viability.

​In the second pathway, Fraunhofer IGB cultivates microalgae from CO₂ from syngas from textile gasification, using data from the Dutch partner TNO. The algae bind carbon and produce biomass containing beta‑glucan, pigments and other compounds with potential in agriculture and as dyes.

​Together, these innovations turn the “stubborn 10%” into inputs for medicine, soil health and flood protection – not just more clothing. The story shifts from “How do we recycle this?” to “What new, biocompatible roles can this material play in a living system?”. Fashion’s leftovers become material for regeneration, rather than harm.