The Biomimicry Institute

DESCRIPTION:THIS ACTION APPROVES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,021 TO THE BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE TO CREATE A LANDSCAPE AND TECHNOLOGY SHORT-LIST ASSESSMENT THAT EVALUATES THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A DESIGN FOR TRANSFORMATION PILOT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 4. THE BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE WILL IDENTIFY THE WASTE CHARACTERIZATION IN REGION 4 AND MAP THE EXISTING TEXTILE RECYCLING AND REUSE INFRASTRUCTURE AND A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF THE POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE IN THE REGION. THE PRIMARY STATES OF FOCUS WILL BE GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA. ACTIVITIES:THE BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE WILL DEVELOP US-BASED KICKOFF DOCUMENTS, COMMUNICATION TOOL AND TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT CRITERIA, DRAFT A WEEK-BY-WEEK WORKPLAN, CREATE A GEOGRAPHIC MAP POPULATED WITH POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS ACROSS MULTIPLE TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES, PRELIMINARY INNOVATOR ENGAGEMENT, IDENTIFY SEVERAL POTENTIAL PATHWAYS, IN PERSON MEETING AND TECHNOLOGY TOURS. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:RESULTS INCLUDE A HOLISTIC OVERVIEW OF REGIONAL TEXTILE BREAKDOWN AND RECLAMATION TECHNOLOGIES, RESEARCH, AND KEY ACTORS; IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS PROSPECTS AND REGIONAL TEXTILE EOL STRATEGY RECOMMENDATIONS; A BIOMIMETIC, SYSTEMS-LEVEL LENS TO CLARIFY REGIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL INVESTMENT DECISION-MAKING; INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TECHNOLOGIES AND PATHWAYS THAT GO BEYOND W2E SOLUTIONS ALTERNATIVE 'TEXTILE TRANSFORMATION' PATHWAYS ARE SUGGESTED FOR REVIEW, PILOT DESIGN, AND IMPLEMENTATION. LOCAL GOVERNMENT, COLLECTORS, SORTERS, RESELLERS, AND REGION 4 COMMUNITIES ARE BENEFICIARIES.