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CARBONCarbon is an integral part of life’s “economy.” Unlike the anthropogenic buildup of carbon in the atmosphereand ocean, carbon is used by organisms to accomplish functions, and it is exchanged in cyclic flows betweenorganisms and regional ecosystems. The abundance of carbon dioxide (CO 2) and methane (CH 4) should beviewed as a ubiquitous resource and business opportunity. 9 Achieving goals like New York State’s 80% reductionin greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, relative to 2010 levels, will require not only easily achievablemeasures, such as retrofitting existing buildings to reduce energy use-related emissions, but also new strategiessuch as reusing carbon to ensure a prosperous low-carbon economy. 10 If properly funded, these additionalreduction measures will come from bioinspired technology.INDUSTRIESAdvanced MaterialsArts & EntertainmentBiotechnologyBuilding ConstructionCement & ConcreteChemical ManufacturingHousehold GoodsMiningOil & GasOptics & ImagingPaints & AdhesivesPlastic ProductsPower Generation,Distribution & StorageTransportationUtilitiesWaste ManagementWater TreatmentSELECTED STRATEGIESCAPTURECarbon in the form of CO 2is captured by a large subset of organismsin our ecosystems. Plants, algae, and cyanobacteria—all primaryproducers—supply the base layer of materials, or carbon feedstocks,to the ecosystem. Similarly, technologies currently in development willallow industry to capture carbon emissions directly from waste fluestreams. GHG emissions produced by our economy can be capturedand integrated into our existing material stream, moving us toward acyclic carbon economy. Systems and materials that use waste carbon,such as Blue Planet’s carbon-sequestering concrete, will create a muchneeded “sink” in the global carbon cycle and represent a huge economicopportunity for companies who accomplish this feat. 11STORAGEThe sequestration of carbon occurs in life’s materials; all organisms arecomposed of carbon-based materials. The temporary storage of carbonin the ecosystem varies from days to eons, but carbon always movesthrough a cyclic process. In contrast, most of our synthetic materialsand fuel move linearly from fossilized carbon to landfills, oceans, and theatmosphere. Companies and researchers are mimicking natural carbonstorage by incorporating waste carbon into valuable fuels, polymers,and construction materials that comprise billion-dollar markets. Artificialphotosynthesis is one such innovation that is beginning to tap and evenexpand these markets.UTILIZATIONCarbon is cycled from molecule to molecule across organisms,incorporated into materials to meet various needs; the use of carbonis intimately connected to the storage of carbon. Often, stored carbon(whether from fossil or living sources) acts as a building block and as atemporary vessel for energy, allowing organisms to intake, store, andlater use the carbon molecules as a material feedstock and chemicalenergy. Innovative companies, such as Novomer, are beginning to usewaste CO 2-derived molecules when creating materials. 1214Tapping into Nature