Nature provides solutions

4th of July 2017
Nature provides solutions

Will cleaning still be necessary in the near future? Some of the people present at the VSR (Association of Cleaning Research) event on biomimicry at the end of 2016 in the Netherlands asked themselves the same question. Nature provides solutions which means that cleaning may no longer be entirely necessary. Jacco Vonhof, its chairman, writes for ECJ.

Biomimicry involves imitating nature to solve human problems. It is not unheard of in the cleaning sector. Façade coatings have already been developed, based on lotus leaves, with the result that rain and dirt easily slide off.

“Put a lotus leaf under a microscope, and you will see that the leaf has a structure with many small water-repellent lumps,” explains the expert invited by VSR to talk about biomimicry to its members.

“The water, and even dirt, which lands on the leaf, consequently transforms into thicker droplets and rolls off the leaf. That way, the leaf - despite the muddy pool of water where the plant grows - remains clean. And that is important because the plant needs sunlight for photosynthesis.”

This water and dirt-repellent technology, whose roots are in nature, is already applied in coatings to façades. Thanks to nature, it was possible to understand that water actually adheres more easily to a smooth façade. Coatings with the lotus leaf structure stay cleaner.

In the same way, the ventilation system in a termite mound was the inspiration behind the construction of an apartment complex. Air conditioning is not necessary in this building. And you no longer need to dye textiles if you mimic the feathers of a peacock. A peacock doesn’t actually have any colour. We see its colours thanks to the layers on the feathers which all reflect light differently. Researchers have also made crisp bags from prawn shells, based on the carapace of a beetle.

The use of this kind of technology from nature is important, since our presence on earth has an enormous impact. In order to preserve the earth, we will need to move to a circular system. Biomimicry can help in this respect. Nature is a research lab where 38 billion years of research has already taken place. And there appear to be a remarkable number of solutions for cleaning and hygiene.

For example, it seems that organisms can barely grip the skin of sharks. The structure of shark skin already mimics the outer hulls of boats. And red seaweed prevents bacteria from grouping together and becoming harmful. Very useful in hospitals.

Will cleaning no longer be necessary then in the near future? I advise cleaning companies to think differently. Other than selling cleaning hours, you can agree to a certain output with customers. A clean façade for example. That way, cleaning companies remain the experts.

• The Association of Cleaning Research (VSR) is the independent platform, and knowledge and research institute for professional cleaning in the Netherlands.

 

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