Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List

Full text release has been delayed at the author's request until January 01, 2026

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Biomimicry in Business: Advancing the Narrative of Corporate Sustainability through Design and Behaviour.

McInerney, Sarah J
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6942-6307
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1637152145223649

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Integrated Bioscience.
Biomimicry has become increasingly popular within corporate R&D departments, as a design process to drive sustainable innovation. However, there is limited research to inform best practice. In addition, given the current climate crisis government regulations, consumers, and stakeholders are demanding that corporate sustainability practices advance beyond business-orientated sustainable innovation to include ecology orientated sustainability practices. Business as usual in the pursuit of profit does not address the environmental damage of our consumer society or support the transformational shift in the human-environmental relationship that is required to combat the climate crisis. This body of work begins to reveal the potential of biomimicry to advance a diversity of corporate sustainability goals from sustainable innovation, sustainable marketing and even human resource metrics regarding employee engagement, retention and recruitment. This work also provides evidence for biomimicry practice to advance corporate sustainability to include ecological-orientated practices. Through design, by advancing biomimicry as an approach to sustainable innovation, and through behaviour, by intrinsically motivating corporate practitioners to engage in collaborative and immersive biomimicry practice to reconnect to the natural world to begin to transform the human-environment relationship and address our climate crisis.
Peter H. Niewiarowski (Advisor)
Joelle D. Elicker (Committee Member)
Tom Weis (Committee Member)
Jacquelyn Nagel (Committee Member)
Gary M. Holliday (Committee Member)
247 p.
Behavioral Psychology; Climate Change; Cognitive Psychology; Conservation; Curriculum Development; Education; Environmental Education; Environmental Studies; Experimental Psychology; Organizational Behavior; Sustainability; Teaching
Environmental Sustainability; Sustainable Design; Innovation; Biomimicry; Environmental Psychology; Training Psychology; Corporate Sustainability, Employee Engagement

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McInerney, S. J. (2021). Biomimicry in Business: Advancing the Narrative of Corporate Sustainability through Design and Behaviour. [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1637152145223649

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McInerney, Sarah. Biomimicry in Business: Advancing the Narrative of Corporate Sustainability through Design and Behaviour. 2021. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1637152145223649.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McInerney, Sarah. "Biomimicry in Business: Advancing the Narrative of Corporate Sustainability through Design and Behaviour." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1637152145223649

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1637152145223649
© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12