Armadillo - Packaging

The word armadillo means “little armored one” in Spanish. Its body armor consists of bony surface plates and small overlapping scales. There are about 20 species of this amazing creature. Armadillos are nocturnal and sleep up to 16 hours ech day.

One species, the three-banded armadillo, can roll up into a tight ball for defense against predators. The tech company Sprint has taken an interest in armadillos for inspiration on packaging their fragile products. The outside shell of the armadillo is tough and flexible while the inside surface is soft. Sprint’s biodegradable packing materials are made to duplicate this structure. This includes a rounded outer shape similar to the armadillo’s appearance. The resulting packaging is lightweight and durable with the product protected inside, like a seed in its pod.

Nature continues to teach new ideas for products and solutions of problems. Such examples are called biomimicry, the uncovering of secrets placed in Creation by the Master Designer.