In previous posts I have mentioned the need for ‘more material’ in order to reduce the probability of failure.  This is a little sloppy, since there are, at least, two options buried in these statements.  Namely, the simple one, which is to add a greater mass of material; and the alternative, which is to use a stronger but lighter material, i.e. a more sophisticated material, e.g. a composite.  These are usually also more expensive but can also provide opportunities to incorporate sustainability via bio-based recyclability [for information on bio-based composites see http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/bioepic/documents/symposium/NDS%20Bio-BasedMaterials-DRZAL-10-07-final.pdf%5D.