Tag: innovation

creativity

The Zero-Waste Secret: How Orange Peels Became Luxury Silk

Christa Avampato
Italian luxury brand E. Marinella Orange Fiber used Orange Fiber to create ties and scarves

Every day, the global citrus industry produces mountains of waste: billions of tons of leftover peels and pulp from juice extraction. Most of my immediate family lives in Florida now, and I’ve seen his waste first-hand. In nature, waste doesn’t exist; everything is a resource. So, what if we applied that wisdom—the principle of biomimicry—to the industrial challenge of food waste?

Enter Orange Fiber, an Italian company (from Sicily – where my ancestors are from!) that has cracked the code on circular fashion.

The Problem of Waste, Solved by Nature

Orange Fiber developed an innovative, patented process to extract the cellulose fiber that still exists within citrus juice by-products. They take the material left over from juicing and, through bio-based chemistry, transform it into a refined, high-quality fabric. The result is a refined, ethereal, and sensorial fabric that feels like a beautiful silk.

This is biomimicry in action: Nature’s design principle is to create closed-loop systems, and Orange Fiber has designed a zero-waste textile solution right inside a juice factory.

Why This is More Than Just a Fabric

This is a story of value creation and a new definition of luxury in the modern world.

  1. Sustainable Innovation: It dramatically reduces agricultural waste and reliance on non-renewable resources (like petroleum-based synthetic fabrics).
  2. Professional Validation: Since its launch, Orange Fiber has quickly scaled, partnering with brands like Salvatore Ferragamo, H&M Conscious Exclusive, and E. Marinella. If they trust the quality, the model is scalable.
  3. The Secret is Simple: The success of Orange Fiber is a perfect example of a deep, simple secret often overlooked in product design: the solution is often hiding in plain sight, waiting to be repurposed.

The work of Orange Fiber reminds us that every challenge we face—from environmental pollution to resource depletion—can be solved by looking to the design wisdom of the natural world. It proves that the most beautiful, sustainable solutions are often discovered when we choose curiosity and embrace the design mindset of, “How can we make something beautiful while also protecting the natural world we all depend upon for survival?”

creativity

What a Corn Stalk’s DNA Taught Me About Solving the Climate Crisis

Christa Avampato
Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash

The urgent global challenge is feeding a rapidly growing population while fighting the uncertainty of climate change. As a storyteller and a biomimicry scientist, I often ask: How does nature solve a massive, existential crisis? The answer, it turns out, lies not in some distant super-technology, but in the subtle genius of a single plant cell.

New research from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has illuminated a fundamental biological “master switch” in the DNA of food crops like corn, giving us an actual blueprint for creating a resilient, thriving future. This isn’t just botany; it’s a profound lesson in survival written right into the plant kingdom.

The Inner Wisdom of the Plant

Plant growth, from the deepest root to the ripest ear of corn, is governed by its stem cells—unspecialized cells that hold the potential to become any part of the plant. The challenge facing plant scientists has always been figuring out how to balance these cells: when should they grow and when should they specialize into, say, a fruit or a thick stalk?

In a breakthrough study, scientists mapped the gene expression in these cells, revealing the network of regulators that act as the plant’s precise internal control panel. This network balances growth and stress response, allowing the plant to strategically allocate its resources for survival.

This knowledge is a gift to us all because it shows how nature manages risk. A plant facing drought doesn’t just despair; it shifts resources to deepen its roots. A plant under pest attack doesn’t just succumb; it redirects energy to fortify its cell walls. It’s a marvelous, elegant system of risk mitigation through metabolic flexibility.

A Blueprint for Humanity’s Resilience

As my work focuses on biomimicry—integrating nature’s genius into the human world—I see in this discovery a direct path to solving our human challenge of food security. We are not meant to struggle endlessly against the elements; we are meant to learn from the masters of endurance.

This plant study provides us with three clear takeaways for building a better world:

  1. Precision over Force: Instead of overwhelming fields with more fertilizer and water, we can use this genetic knowledge to engineer plants to be more efficient—to use nitrogen more effectively and direct energy precisely where it’s needed most for resilience.
  2. Unlocking Latent Potential: We are now able to see and manipulate the plant’s own evolutionary solutions. We can develop crops with deep-seated, natural defenses against drought and disease, built on the plant’s own wisdom, not on chemical dependency.
  3. The Power of the Foundational System: The corn stalk teaches us that true resilience comes from perfecting the foundation. By understanding and replicating the simplest, deepest biological controls, we can build human systems that are robust and adaptable, just like an ecosystem.

A Brighter Future Ahead

This breakthrough is more than just a scientific finding; it is a fundamental shift in our relationship with nature. By finally decoding the genetic “master switch” that plants use to govern their own destiny, we are handed a powerful blueprint for survival. The challenge of global food security has never been greater, but this research proves that the solution is not an endless technological sprint, but a deeper engagement with the patient, profound wisdom of the living world. The era of resilient agriculture is not just on the horizon—it has already begun, written in the complex, hopeful language of a plant’s own DNA.

If you’re interested in learning more about how I apply nature’s genius to human challenges, check out my work on biomimicry here: Christa Avampato: Biomimicry Stories Can Help Us Build a More Sustainable World



Now, I want to hear from you: How can we apply the corn plant’s principle of ‘metabolic flexibility’ to urban planning in our own cities?

creativity

Feeling the Heat? How Cities Worldwide Are Cooling Down!

Christa Avampato
A worker who is part of the Cool LA initiative applying a pavement cooling coating. https://streetsla.lacity.org/marquerite-street-cool-pavement

Ever stepped out of an air-conditioned building into a city street and felt like you’d walked into an oven? That’s exactly how I felt last week in New York City. This is known as the urban heat island (UHI) effect. It makes cities significantly warmer than their surrounding rural landscapes, particularly at night. Why does this happen, and what are cities doing about it?

The Science Behind the Sizzle:

The UHI effect is largely a byproduct of how we build our cities. Here’s a quick breakdown of the culprits:

  • Dark Surfaces & Materials: Concrete, asphalt, and dark rooftops absorb and store vast amounts of solar radiation during the day. Unlike natural landscapes (think forests or water bodies) that reflect more sunlight and release moisture, these urban materials slowly re-emit that stored heat into the surrounding air, keeping temperatures elevated long after sunset.
  • Lack of Vegetation: Trees and plants provide natural cooling through shade and a process called evapotranspiration (where they release water vapor, like sweating). Cities, with their limited green spaces, miss out on these vital cooling benefits. The apartment building where I live straddles a city block. On one side, it’s a tree-lined street that’s almost completely shaded. On the other side of the building, there aren’t any trees at all. The temperature difference between the two entrances is often 10 degrees or more.
  • Urban Geometry: Tall buildings and narrow streets can create “urban canyons” that trap heat and block wind flow, preventing cooler air from circulating and dissipating trapped warmth.
  • Waste Heat: All the human activity in a city – cars, factories, air conditioning units – generates a significant amount of waste heat, further contributing to the overall temperature rise.

The consequences of the UHI effect are serious: increased energy consumption (more AC means more power plants working overtime), elevated air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and significant health risks, especially for vulnerable populations, including heat-related illnesses and even fatalities. In the United States, heat is indeed the deadliest weather-related hazard, claiming more lives annually than other extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, or tornadoes

Cities Taking Innovative Action:

The good news is that cities around the world are recognizing this challenge and implementing clever, innovative solutions to cool down from cool pavement surfaces to using plants as part of walls, roofs, corridors, and increased green spaces. Here are a few inspiring examples:

  • Singapore: The “Garden City” Goes Further Singapore is a leader in green infrastructure. Beyond its lush parks, the city-state is integrating vegetation into buildings with impressive “green walls” and “sky gardens.” They’re also exploring district-level cooling systems, which are more energy-efficient than individual air conditioning units, and prioritizing science-based policies to reduce urban heat risks. Their commitment to planting millions of trees and creating numerous parks is paying off in tangible temperature reductions.
  • Los Angeles, USA: Paving the Way with Cool Pavements Known for its expansive roadways, Los Angeles has been actively experimenting with “cool pavements.” These lighter-colored surfaces reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than traditional asphalt, significantly reducing surface temperatures. The city has already coated over a million square feet of pavement with these innovative materials. It is also experimenting with applying this coating to rooftops as well.
  • Rotterdam, Netherlands: Embracing Green Rooftops Rotterdam is literally building a cooler future from the top down. The city is actively promoting and implementing green rooftops on a massive scale, aiming to green over 900,000 square meters of rooftops. These vegetated roofs not only reduce ambient temperatures by acting as insulation and through evapotranspiration but also help with stormwater management.
  • Medellín, Colombia: Cultivating Green Corridors Medellín has transformed its urban landscape by creating a network of 30 “green corridors.” These shaded routes, lined with thousands of native trees, palms, and other plants, offer cooler pathways for people to travel and gather, directly combating heatwaves and improving air quality.
  • Paris, France: Creating “Cool Islands” Paris is tackling its urban heat with a strategic approach to “cool island” spaces. The city has identified and is creating 800 such spaces, including parks, water fountains, and public buildings like swimming pools and museums, which are significantly cooler than surrounding streets. They also have ambitious plans to plant 170,000 trees by 2026.
  • Seville, Spain: A “Policy of Shade” In a city accustomed to scorching summers, Seville has adopted a “policy of shade.” This includes installing more awnings, planting 5,000 trees annually, switching to heat-reflective construction materials, and installing more public fountains – all aimed at providing respite from the intense heat.

These examples demonstrate that while the urban heat island effect is a significant challenge, it’s not insurmountable. By embracing a combination of green infrastructure, cool materials, and thoughtful urban design, cities worldwide are proving that a cooler, more livable urban future is within reach.

What can you do?

Even as individuals, we can contribute to mitigating the UHI effect. Consider:

  • Support local initiatives for tree planting and green spaces.
  • Call your reps and offer these examples as something your city could try.
  • Choose lighter-colored materials for your own property if applicable.
  • Advocate for sustainable urban planning in your community.

Let’s work together to make our cities cooler, healthier, and more sustainable for everyone!

creativity

Lavender — soothing for the mind and saving the clean energy revolution

Christa Avampato
Lavender field in Provence, France. Photo by Antony BEC on Unsplash.

Soon, lavender’s scent won’t be the only reason it causes you to take a deep inhale. In addition to soothing your mind, it’s about to revolutionize the way we store clean energy.

Lithium-ion batteries are often used to store clean energy and power electric vehicles because they are cost-efficient and have a large storage capacity. However, they require lithium and cobalt, two elements that lead to mining operations that can pollute land and water, and often utilize child labor. Additionally, they’re difficult to recycle, often leading to landfill waste, and they require significant amounts of energy to produce.

Sodium-sulfur batteries are an alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Unlike lithium and cobalt, sodium and sulfur are abundant, easily obtained, and relatively easy to recycle. However, these batteries can’t store nearly as much energy as lithium-ion batteries, and their storage capacity is degraded even further after a few charging cycles. The challenge for scientists has been how to create a battery that has the benefits of lithium-ion batteries and sodium-sulfur batteries without the downsides of either. Lavender, or more specifically linalool, to the rescue!

Linalool is the compound responsible for lavender’s calming scent. (Linalool is also found in other plants such as basil, bay laurel, some cannabis strains, mint, cinnamon, citrus fruits, rosewood, guava, peach, plum, pineapple, and passionfruit.) A research team at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces led by Paolo Giusto found linalool interacts with sulfur to help sodium-sulfur batteries deliver more power and hold a better charge over hundreds of charging cycles.

“By taking a creative look at nature, we are finding solutions to many of the challenges posed by the energy transition, “ said Paolo Giusto.

Nature to the rescue, again. As a society, we need to recognize that nature is not something to by dominated by our egos, but rather a wider guide, teacher, and partner to help us improve the lives all beings while caring for the one planet we all share.

creativity

The National Climate Assessment shows us we can save the world

Christa Avampato
Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash

Look at your hands. Coupled with your mind and heart, your hands, joined with mine and with people across the globe, have the power to save the world. We can choose to be the artificers of our own bright and bountiful future.

Today we have a once-in-human-existence opportunity — the chance to create a healthy, vibrant, sustainable world for all beings. And not just for our children and grandchildren, but for ourselves and all beings alive right now.

The 2023 National Climate Assessment released Tuesday in the U.S. lays out the dire possibilities from global warming. It also shows that collectively we have all the knowledge, money, and creativity we need to halt emissions that cause global warming. There is proof the solutions work. Climate solutions are being deployed nationwide in every region and annual emissions dropped 12% from 2013–2019. We need them to drop much more but this is progress.

The one remaining hold out is us. Do we have the will to save ourselves and life on Earth?

“How much more the world warms depends on the choices societies make today,” states the report. “The future is in human hands.”

The report is hefty and so is the opportunity before us. Let’s not waste it.

creativity

Start at the ending, in writing and life

Christa Avampato
Photo by Monty Allen on Unsplash

“Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.” Julie Andrews, Do-Re-Mi in The Sound of Music

As writers, sometimes we have to start at the end. In my previous books, I started at the beginning and wrote all the way through to the end. It’s how I outline, too. But with this third Emerson Page book, I have to take a different approach.

I started to write the beginning with my trusty outline in-hand and quickly found myself in murky waters. So murky that I was procrastinating, which I never do. I was afraid to sit down and write, and that fear was getting in the way of delivering my draft manuscript to my publisher under a tight deadline.

I have to find another way in. I stopped writing in my usual progression of beginning to end, and flipped it on its head. Today, I’m writing the last chapter of the book, the end of Emerson’s story arc. I know where it needs to take place and what needs to happen there. With that confidence, I’ll walk backward one step, one chapter, at a time.

To be honest, I don’t like that I have to do this. I’m a creature of habit and I like my writing habits. But this leg of Emerson’s journey is the most complicated of the three books. It has many more twists, turns, and surprises. The stakes are higher, and I have to give readers an ending that’s satisfying and true to Emerson’s spirit. To do that, I have to adjust my process.

Maybe you’re facing something similar, in your writing or in your life. Something isn’t progressing as you hoped. A surprise popped up that has thrown you off-track. You’re stuck, disappointed, frustrated, or maybe you’re all of those things.

Back up and look for a different path. How can you adjust what you’re doing? Is there another way forward, even it requires you to get comfortable with being uncomfortable? Maybe like me, you have to put things in reverse. Start with the goal. Then instead of asking, “and then what happened?”, ask “how did I get here? And here? And here?”

It may turn out that the ending is the very best place to start.

creativity

In the pause: The best innovation and creative processes have constraints

Christa Avampato

A canvas is only so big, a building so tall, a stage so wide, and a novel so long. The best creative projects have limits. Someone recently told me that people who work in innovation have to be comfortable with ambiguity and nebulous situations. I completely disagree. After nearly two decades of working in product development, innovation, and creative industries I can tell you that people who have an impact through innovation have to be comfortable with working within constraints.

Now, if you’re in the rare (and quite frankly, boring, at least to me) situation of not needing to have an impact, then do whatever you want. If you have all the time, money, and energy in the world, then the sky’s the limit. This article isn’t for you. It’s for the rest of us who have to operate in reality and who care about building projects that build a better world.

When I was just out of business school, I had an amazing boss, Bob G., who taught me that constraints are gifts. Now in my writing work with my Darden professor, Ed Freeman, we’re talking about how valuable the idea of limitation is when it comes to the human imagination. Constraints don’t prevent us from being creative; they actually free us. Once we have some definition, then we can let our imaginations run wild while being confident in the fact that we’re making progress.

We might be designing a product or service for a particular group of people. With that definition to the project, we can really delve into the process of discovering what this group of people wants or needs and why. That’s some of the most interesting work we can do in innovation.

Perhaps there is a specific social issue we want to tackle – ending hunger, alleviating poverty, or advocating for equality. Those goals have very different objectives and methods. To develop the most effective programs, we have to get specific about what we want to do and have a deep understanding of how what we choose to do will make a difference.

In short, to be creative and effective, we’ve got to eliminate the unnecessary so the necessary can speak. We’ve got to dampen the noise so the message can be heard. And the best way to do that is to define our limits.

So the next time you have a project in front of you that has constraints, don’t curse them. Thank them. They are there to help you focus and give you meaning. Use them wisely.

creativity

In the pause: Rediscovering awe in CRISPR

Christa Avampato

“He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.” ~Albert Einstein

In this year of pausing and reflecting more, I try to read, see, hear, or experience one thing every day that seems completely out of this world. Things that make me wonder. Things that make me stand in awe.

Today that thing is something known as CRISPR. In a very small and simple nutshell, it’s a “find and replace” function for cellular DNA. There is research underway right now at Penn, my alma mater, that is attempting to turn cells into cancer super-fighters.

Other scientists are testing the ideas of using CRISPR to take HIV, cancer, and Alzheimer’s right out of the cells where they exist at the genetic level. Elsewhere, they are creating healthy crops and looking at the possibility of reviving extinct species. There is a chance, and a healthy one at that, that CRISPR could change life on earth as we know it. And with it, there are mountains of ethical and moral questions that have no answers.

It’s my hope that in the coming months and years I will find a way to somehow participate in these conversations and help others participate, too. 2017 is poised to be another wild ride, and I’m grateful for the pause to help me process it.

creativity

Wonder: What do you do now if you work in healthcare?

Christa Avampato

Working for a financial services firm during the recession that started in 2007 has proven to be quite a blessing now that I have some distance from it. Just as the economy was in turmoil then, there are a number of industries now that face similar challenges to their business models and my current industry, healthcare, is one of them.

From this moment forward, I spend my time thinking about what we do now that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may be repealed or recast in any number of ways. What products, services, and systems can help protect our most vulnerable people? I couldn’t have imagined that the painful lessons I learned in financial services from 2008-2012 would be useful in this way and so soon, but life’s like that sometimes. We go through hardship and difficulty because they have something to teach us that we will be able to use to help others down the line. I will try to hang onto that tough and necessary lesson in the coming months and years.

creativity

Wonder: Why this 10-year-old from Paris gives me hope for the world

Christa Avampato

My Facebook feed is filled with friends who are angry, sad, frustrated, confused, and at a complete loss about why there is so much senseless killing happening. I am, too. I worry about what kind of world we’re leaving for our children, and then I read this article from Time about a 10-year-old-girl named Eva who lives in Paris. She was granted a PhD level fellowship. Her pitch was: “The streets of Paris are sad. I want to build a robot that will make them happy again. I’ve already started learning how to code on Thymio robots, but I have trouble making it work. I want to join the program so the mentors can help me.”

Yes, technology can isolate us. It can also be used to build a better, kinder, happier, and safer world. And I think that if we begin to think about technology the way that Eva does, we’ll be able to build a better world together, a world in which every life matters.