Old elephant, new tricks

Do you need to create a product from scratch for it to be considered innovative? I was on a team call recently and the topic of innovation came up. As of late, I feel innovation has been tied to technology and the drive to create something from nothing. What is the next iPhone? The next Tesla? Is the race to develop the next game changing product for consumers narrowing our vision? During the team call, it was pointed out that innovation could also come in the form of repurposing an existing product for a new solution, like baby milk formula for elephants.

Dr. Daphne Sheldrick spent 28 years perfecting a milk product for orphaned baby elephants. Baby elephants are dependent on milk until the age of three, and would otherwise perish without it. Using baby formula made for humans as a base, and with the addition of a few small additives such as coconut oil, Dr. Sheldrick has managed to formulate millions of bottles of milk, saving 263 orphaned elephants to date.

Sometimes, you can look sideways to move forward.