The US Army wants biodegradable bullets that grow plants
Every year armies around the world use millions of rounds of ammunition during training exercises but these can cause a trail of environmental devastation which takes generations to recover from, the US Army want to create a new legacy.
Key takeaways
- At US Army training facilities around the world, hundreds of thousands of spent shells litter proving grounds.
- According to the request for proposal, the US Army Corps of Engineers' Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory has already developed and tested seeds that can be embedded into a biodegradable composite.
- The proposals are being solicited until February 8, after which time, the chosen contractors will produce the biodegradable bullets as part of a three phase process.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2017) 'The US Army wants biodegradable bullets that grow plants', 311 Institute, 12 January. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/the-us-army-wants-biodegradable-bullets-that-grow-plants/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Not only are bullets a physical hazard, but they're an environmental hazard, too. At US Army training facilities around the world, hundreds of thousands of spent shells litter proving grounds. Because there is no efficient way to clean up the shells, they're left where they fall. But that's a problem. The shells, which contain metal and other chemicals, can rust and pollute soils and groundwater , and now the US DoD wants to do something about it so they're soliciting proposals for biodegradable bullets "loaded with specialised seeds to grow environmentally beneficial plants that eliminate ammunition debris and contaminants."
The materials best suited for these bullets could include the same biodegradable plastics used to make water bottles or plastic containers, or it could end up being some different material altogether.
According to the request for proposal, the US Army Corps of Engineers' Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory has already developed and tested seeds that can be embedded into a biodegradable composite. They've been bioengineered to germinate only after they've been in the ground for several months.
The proposals are being solicited until February 8, after which time, the chosen contractors will produce the biodegradable bullets as part of a three phase process. In Phase 1, the contractor will focus on making 40 mm to 120 mm training rounds, Phase 2 includes developing a prototype and the means to manufacture it and Phase 3 has the biodegradable round being deployed and used at the Army training facilities.
What this means for your organisation
Clean-up moves into the product.
Spent shells stay where they fall because there is no efficient way to collect them. Metal and chemicals in them can rust and pollute soils and groundwater. The Army is asking for rounds that carry seeds, so the remedy is built into the item itself.
The core materials are mostly mature.
Biodegradable polymers sit at TRL 8 and bio-plastics at TRL 9. The source says the plastics used in water bottles could serve here. Seeds that wake only after months in the ground are closer to living materials, which sit at TRL 4.
Staged delivery keeps risk low.
The plan runs in three phases. First come 40 mm to 120 mm training rounds, then a prototype and the means to make it, then use at training facilities. Organisations with a similar problem can copy the pattern and prove the idea on a small, controlled site first.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- What does our product leave behind once the customer has finished with it?
- Which of our materials could be swapped for a biodegradable one today?
- Where could we run a small, staged trial before committing to scale?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Every year armies around the world use millions of rounds of ammunition during training exercises but these can cause a trail of environmental devastation which takes generations to recover from, the US Army want to create a new legacy.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
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Sources and further reading
- soliciting proposals sbir.gov
- US Army Corps of Engineers' Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory erdc.usace.army.mil
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 12 January 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). The US Army wants biodegradable bullets that grow plants. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/the-us-army-wants-biodegradable-bullets-that-grow-plants/
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