Nature's technologies are inspired first and foremost by the laws of physics, which shape the chemistry and the biology that sustains life on earth.

Green chemistry and sustainable biology are both worthy approaches to steering business towards sustainability. However, new molecules and innovative biological processes require millions of dollars and years of research in order to obtain approval for commercialization.

At a time in history when the economic crisis hits hard, the ZERI Foundation wishes to inspire entrepreneurs and business leaders alike with innovations that could be implemented without any further cost or delay. Therefore, organizational technologies that are either based on the clustering of natural processes in man-made environments or technologies that are inspired by innovative uses of the law of physics and their underlying non-linear mathematics.

These proven platform technologies can:

cycle nutrients from plants to fungi and animals
generate fuels from biodiversity
provide potable water for free while sequestering CO2
produce building materials while sequestering CO2
generate electricity without any need for metal-based batteries
control bacteria without chemicals
spin polymers while regeneration forests and building on traditional culture

And so much more.

At the time of crisis, society as a whole and industry in particular needs to imagine the businesses of the future. The Nature's 100 Best offers an insight into the platform technologies that are likely to generate the green jobs of the future. It is pragmatic and competitive. Maybe these technologies will steer business towards sustainability, certainly these nature technologies will stimulate entrepreneurship, especially amongst the young, eager to shape the economy of the future.

The ZERI Foundation and Japanese partners commissioned a full review nature's technologies described in peer group reviewed articles published in the international scientific journals. A team of researchers located in the USA unearthed 2,134 technologies. A first sifting separated the interesting ideas from the potential shifts in business model.

These technologies were ranked according to the development state of the business, the portfolio of intellectual property, the contribution to the Millennium Goals of the United Nations, the potential job generation and the speed with which these technologies could reach the mass market. A list of 100 priority nature technologies emerged. The ranking is strongly influenced

Then a team appointed by ZERI, composed of business strategists, financial analysts, business journalists and policy makers assessed which technologies could contribute to societies' capacity to respond to basic needs for water, food, health, housing and energy. The assessment team is sensitive to the potential job generation and a system's approach, i.e. the inspiration of an ecosystem that achieves multiple purposes is prioritized over the mere substitution of a technology that only reduces toxins. Responding to the basic need for water, food and health also is given higher marks.

This project is an ongoing development. New ideas are assessed from the competitive point of view, as well as the potential to create new business models.