It is not only in nanotech labs that science is looking to nature – designers are taking their cue too.

Among products recently developed are self-cleaning paints, inspired by the water-repellent properties of the lotus leaf. The paints have been created by Sto, a German group specialising in wall insulation, render systems, paints and interior plasters. As chemicals repel rain, every downpour is turned into a shower that keeps outside surfaces clean.

Meanwhile, automotive paint manufacturer, PPG is working on new technologies and techniques to create “functional effect” colours. Some effects, inspired by nature, include matte black areas to mitigate glare or super-durable paint in areas subject to high wear or abrasion. Paint colours are changing too. While silver remains the most popular colour for cars – in Europe, 35% of new cars are silver, in Asia it’s 37% and in North America 20% – it isn’t monotone silver anymore. With advances in technology and design that would grab the attention of a chameleon, silver shades continue to evolve – with hue shifts, tints, aluminium flake size and appearance.

As well as smartening your driveway and your garage, nature-inspired science is also creeping into your kitchen. Packaging, long considered an afterthought, has begun a long-needed penetration into the mainstream of food science and technology as integral to the preservation of both organic and processed foods.
So-called intelligent or active packaging mimics the way plants use chlorophyll and riboflavin to make packaging more immune to the deteriorating effects of light and oxygen to extend shelf life, improve safety and enhance sensory properties in foods and beverages.

Within the next decade as materials, equipment and manufacturing take centre stage, active and intelligent packaging options will become key elements in how food processors and manufacturers protect the longevity and nutrient value of their products.

Another innovation is phase-changing textiles, which replicate the way reptiles adjust their body temperature to keep the wearer comfortable by absorbing heat when it is warm and releasing it as it gets colder. Materials like these offer new possibilities within the design, textile and architecture fields.

In October 2008, Japan’s Uniqlo began worldwide consumer trials of its Heat Tech clothing, which the company claims absorbs moisture evaporating from the body and turns it into heat energy, and uses an “insulation function” that prevents the heat from escaping.