Witch's Hair

Witch's hair forms dense, hanging masses in old-growth conifer forests, sometimes so abundant that branches droop under its weight. It provides critical winter food and nesting material for flying squirrels and other forest animals. When it falls, it continues providing value as ground-level forage and soil nutrition.

This lichen demonstrates value creation at multiple life stages. Living, it provides habitat; fallen, it provides food and nutrients. Nothing is wasted. The business parallel is products designed for full lifecycle value - assets that serve one purpose initially, then transition to serve other purposes rather than becoming waste.