No words can express the deep sadness that everybody feels with the recent tragedy in Paris and the blog is sending its condolence to those who have been directly affected. It is also very sad to hear that one of those who died, Nohemi Gonzalez, a young US student from California State University in Long Beach, was part of a team that won second place in this year’s Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, with their design of a biodegradable snack pack called Polli Snak.

Nohemi, along with her other team members, Ana Ramirez, Kim Jarboe and Angela Marquez, drew their inspiration from bees and flowers for their packaging design using 100% biodegradable materials. The team was not only promoting reduction in packaging waste but education in healthy eating habits and promotion of local gardening as well.

Here is a video about their winning product.