Would it not be nice to stop scrubbing every day?
How do you keep surfaces clean without using lots of water and chemicals? And how do you save time cleaning your house so that you can enjoy reading books?
Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants that have leaves that have been modified to trap prey. The pitfall traps are a deep cavity filled with liquid, and the plants lure their prey with nectar down the trap.
The walls of pitcher plants is filled with a flaky, waxy substance that is rough. The plants prevent insects from escaping by clogging their feet with the substance.
Inspired by the Nepenthes pitcher plant, or monkey cups, the company spotLESS Materials has developed a spray that coats materials and makes them repel liquid, sludge, bacteria, mineral deposits, and more. The spray helps surfaces like toilets stay clean, and it reduces the amount of water and cleaning chemicals needed to keep surfaces clean.
The peristome of the Nepenthes pitcher plant is extremely slippery when infused with water or nectar, so the plant catches and ingests insects that touch the surface of the plant peristome.
You’ll find the resource here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learn to design and problem-solving. Instead of inventing from scratch, it means studying how plants, animals, and ecosystems have already solved a challenge — like staying cool, collecting water, or absorbing carbon — and adapting that strategy for human use.
How does biomimicry help address climate change?
Nature has been adapting to extreme conditions for billions of years, so many organisms already hold working solutions to problems we now face at a larger scale — cooling buildings without electricity (termite mounds), collecting water in drought (the Namib beetle), protecting coastlines from storms (mangrove roots), and capturing carbon (corals, forests, kelp). Biomimicry means studying those solutions and applying the same principles to human design.
How can children get involved in biomimicry?
Children don’t need special training to think like a biomimicrist — just curiosity and a habit of asking “how does nature solve this?” Simple ways to start include a backyard scavenger hunt for nature’s patterns, a “design-an-animal” challenge for a changing climate, or building a small model (like a passive-cooling structure or a water collector) inspired by something they’ve observed outdoors.
Is biomimicry only for scientists and engineers?
No — biomimicry is as much a mindset as a profession. Anyone can practice it by observing nature closely and asking design questions. Professional biomimicry practitioners apply it in architecture, materials science, and engineering, but the same core skill — careful observation followed by “what if we built it that way?” — is exactly what this post’s classroom and family activities are designed to build in children.
Åsa Jomård
In 2015, Åsa completed a course in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With over 10 years of experience exploring nature for inspiration and as a former member of Ben, Biomimicry Education Network, she brings both academic background and creative teaching experience to her work. Her materials seamlessly integrate stories, nature observations, and design challenges, making them perfect for inquiry-led learning in early primary contexts.
AI was used as a Thinking Partner.