The ABCs of sustainable business practices is a series that aims to equip entrepreneurs and MSME owners with basic terms and jargon associated with sustainability. The series will cover sustainability-related terms from A to Z. 

Picking up where we left off, here are terms that start with “B” to help you learn more about the common terms used when talking about sustainability. You’ve likely heard some of these words being thrown around while reading the news or learning about new innovations, so let’s take a closer look at what they mean. 

Letter B

Bagasse

Bagasse is “fiber remaining after the extraction of the sugar-bearing juice from sugarcane.“  These fibers can be used for fuel, animal feed in the form of cellulose, and packaging. 

Biomass

Biomass is defined as “plant or animal materials used to create energy.” The most common type of biomass is wood, which is used to cook food and warm homes. While biomass is touted as a better alternative to fossil fuels, there have been criticisms against it due to the potential harm it may cause humans when burned. 

Biomimicry

Biomimicry is “a form of design that seeks sustainable solutions by mimicking nature. The goal is to create products and services that are well adapted to life on Earth over the long-term.” An interesting thing to note is biomimicry isn’t limited to architecture. Down feather insulation, medical adhesives, and even velcro are all examples of biomimicry. 

Biodynamic farming

Biodynamic farming is “a unified approach to agriculture by considering the interconnectedness of the soil, the plants, animals, the earth and even the entire cosmos as a living system.” This type of agriculture treats the soil as a living being and actively takes into consideration how it reacts. 

Business resilience 

Business resilience is “the ability of an organization to adapt in a changing environment to enable it to achieve its objectives and prosper.” To be truly sustainable, businesses must also take into account the market growth and direction as well as its social and environmental impact. It must also be responsive to challenges and quickly adapt to different types of advancements in the field it belongs to. 

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