Ecovative Design

[https://ecovative.com/ Ecovative] was developed from a university project of founders Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre. In their Inventor's Studio course at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute taught by Burt Swersey, Eben and Gavin developed and then patented a method of growing a mushroom-based insulation, initially called Greensulate before founding Ecovative Design in 2007.{{cite news|last=Pasko|first=Jessica|title=Mushrooms are eco-friendly insulation|url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/environment/2007-06-25-mushroom-insulation_N.htm|accessdate=24 July 2012|newspaper=USA Today|date=25 June 2007}}{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.ecovativedesign.com/about-ecovative/history/|work=EcovativeDesign.com|publisher=Ecovative Design|accessdate=25 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505025210/http://www.ecovativedesign.com/about-ecovative/history/|archive-date=5 May 2012|url-status=dead}} In 2007 they were awarded $16,000 from the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance.{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/mar2009/id20090323_482784.htm |title=NCIIA: Promoting Student Inventors |work=Bloomburg Businessweek |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816001300/http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/mar2009/id20090323_482784.htm |archivedate=2015-08-16 }}

Since 2008, when they were awarded $700,000 first place in the Picnic Green Challenge{{cite news|title=Amerikaan wint Picnic Green Challenge|url=http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/30/ECONOMIE/article/detail/34196/2008/09/26/Amerikaan-wint-Picnic-Green-Challenge.dhtml|accessdate=24 July 2012|newspaper=Parool.nl|date=26 September 2008}} the company has developed and commercialized production of a protective packaging called EcoCradle{{cite web|last=Binder|first=Libuse|title=Ecovative Design: Making Magic Out of Mushrooms|url=http://earth911.com/news/2009/05/11/making-magic-out-of-mushrooms/|publisher=Earth 911|accessdate=24 July 2012|archive-date=22 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722092359/http://earth911.com/news/2009/05/11/making-magic-out-of-mushrooms/|url-status=dead}} that is now used by Dell, Puma SE, and Steelcase. In 2010 they were awarded $180,000 from the National Science Foundation{{cite web|url=http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2010/08/10/mushroom-based-packaging-98-percent-less-energy-styrofoam|title=Mushroom-Based Packaging Uses 98% Less Energy than Styrofoam|work=Green Biz|access-date=2012-07-26|archive-date=2018-11-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110010959/https://www.greenbiz.com/news/2010/08/10/mushroom-based-packaging-98-percent-less-energy-styrofoam|url-status=dead}} and in 2011 the company received investment from 3M New Ventures, The DOEN Foundation, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute allowing them to double their current staff of 25.

In spring 2012, Ecovative Design opened a new production facility and announced a partnership with Sealed Air to expand production of the packaging materials.{{cite news|title=Sealed Air and Ecovative Complete Agreement to Accelerate Commercialization of New Sustainable Packaging Material|url=http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/stocks/news/press_release.asp?docTag=201206200730BIZWIRE_USPRX____BW5149&feedID=600&press_symbol=250742|accessdate=26 July 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=20 June 2012|archive-date=30 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230184836/http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/stocks/news/press_release.asp?docTag=201206200730BIZWIRE_USPRX____BW5149&feedID=600&press_symbol=250742|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Nearing|first=Brian|title=Ecovative keeps growing|url=http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Ecovative-keeps-growing-3608741.php#photo-3026790|accessdate=25 July 2012|newspaper=Times Union|date=4 June 2012}} In 2014 their material was used in a brick form in 'Hy-Fi', a {{Convert|40|ft|m|adj=on}} tower displayed in New York by the Museum of Modern Art and they started selling "grow-it-yourself" kits.

In November 2019, the company announced a $10M investment to support their new Mycelium Foundry.{{cite web|url=https://vegconomist.com/companies-and-portraits/ecovative-announces-10-million-in-capital-for-launch-of-launch-of-mycelium-foundry/|title=Ecovative Announces $10 Million in Capital for Launch of launch of Mycelium Foundry|work= vegconomist.com|date=25 November 2019}}

In February 2020, IKEA committed to using Ecovative technology for packaging, replacing polystyrene.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/ikea-commits-biodegradable-mushroom-packaging-220023480.html|title=IKEA Commits to Biodegradable Mushroom Packaging|work=Yahoo news|date=4 February 2020}}

In April 2021, Ecovative Design received a $60M investment to develop new applications for their technology and scale up manufacturing.{{cite web|url=https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/ecovative-design-receives-us60m-to-develop-new-applications-for-its-mushroom-mycelia-products/|title=Ecovative Design Receives US$60M To Develop New Applications For Its Mushroom Mycelia Products|work=Green Queen|date=3 April 2021}}

File:Mushroom Insulation Installation.jpg panel, made of bio-material extracted from mushroom mycelium, ready for installation]]

Mushroom composite materials are a novel class of renewable bio-material grown from fungal mycelium and low-value non-food agricultural materials, like shredded hemp stalks, corn husks, soybean hulls and more, using a patented process developed by Ecovative in 2007. Ecovative's legacy technology, MycoComposite, is the basis for sustainable protective packaging, building and construction insulation, automotive and aerospace components and even surfboards.

The entire process to grow MyComposite takes 7 days. Once the mycelium has been mixed with the chosen substrate it is left to grow in a form in a dark room at ambient room temperature for about five days, during which time the fungal mycelial network binds the agricultural substrate together resulting in light, robust and organic home compostable material that can be used within many products, including building materials, thermal insulation panels and protective packaging.{{Cite patent

| country = US

| number = 8001719

| status = patent

| title = Method for producing rapidly renewable chitinous material using fungal fruiting bodies and product made thereby

| pubdate = 2011-08-23

| fdate = 2009-06-16

| pridate = 2009-12-17

| inventor = Eben Bayer, Gavin McIntyre, Burt Swersey

| assign1 = Ecovative Design, LLC

}} The product is rendered inert through a baking process in a kiln that stops the mycelium from growing further once the desired outcome is achieved.

The environmental footprint of the products is minimized through the use of agricultural waste, reliance on natural and non-controlled growth environments, and home compostable final products.{{cite news|title=Mushroom-Based Packaging Uses 98% Less Energy than Styrofoam|url=http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2010/08/10/mushroom-based-packaging-98-percent-less-energy-styrofoam|accessdate=26 July 2012|newspaper=GreenBiz.com|date=20 August 2010|archive-date=10 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110010959/https://www.greenbiz.com/news/2010/08/10/mushroom-based-packaging-98-percent-less-energy-styrofoam|url-status=dead}} The founders' intention is that this technology should replace polystyrene and other petroleum-based products that take many years to decompose, or release toxic forever chemicals.

A renewable and compostable replacement for polystyrene packaging,{{cite web |url=http://www.ecovativedesign.com/products-and-applications/packaging/ |title=Packaging |publisher=Ecovative Design |access-date=2015-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206050922/http://ecovativedesign.com/products-and-applications/packaging/ |archive-date=2015-02-06 |url-status=dead}} that was originally called 'EcoCradle.{{cite web |url=http://www.packaging-gateway.com/projects/ecovatives-ecocradle-mushroom-packaging-plant-new-york/ |title=Ecovative's EcoCradle® Mushroom™ Packaging Plant, New York, United States of America |work=Packaging gateway}} The name was changed to Mushroom Packaging in 2012 and it is now grown by licensees of the technology globally. Ecovative still makes this product available under license in the United States and it is available to order through their mycelium materials website www.grow.bio.

A natural and renewable replacement for engineered wood, formed from compressed mushroom material and requiring no numerical control.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecovativedesign.com/products-and-applications/structural-biocomposites/|title=Structural biocomposites|publisher=Ecovate Design|access-date=2015-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105104326/http://www.ecovativedesign.com/products-and-applications/structural-biocomposites/|archive-date=2015-01-05|url-status=dead}} Architect David Benjamin of The Living, working with Ecovative and Arup, built 'Hy-Fi', a temporary {{convert|40|ft|meters}} external exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/yap/2014ny_living.html|title=Hy-Fi|publisher=Museum of Modern Art, New York}}{{cite web|url=http://www.arupconnect.com/2014/06/24/engineering-a-mushroom-tower/|title=Engineering a mushroom tower|publisher=Arup|date=2014-06-24|access-date=2015-01-05|archive-date=2016-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506215913/http://www.arupconnect.com/2014/06/24/engineering-a-mushroom-tower/|url-status=dead}} David Benjamin and Ecovative then collaborated again on an Autodesk project in 2024 for the City of Oakland to construct a 130+ unit affordable housing building in the heart of the city. Through environmental testing it was found that the mycelium composite Ecovative grew for the exterior panels made the project Carbon Negative thanks to the substrate that was chosen making the building a large carbon sink. MycoComposite panels also benefit construction projects as they are sound deadening as well.

In 2012, scientists and engineers at Ecovative partnered with the EPA to grow a pure mycelium foam with the intention of using it for a shoe sole alternative to plastic. The experimentation in the lab for this project led to the discovery of Ecovative's latest technology platform, AirMycelium.

Ecovative's AirMycelium Platform utilizes existing mushroom farming infrastructure, specifically Dutch Style Mushroom Grow Chambers, utilizing over 3 billion lbs of existing global mushroom farming infrastructure. This platform enables the production of organic oyster mushroom mycelium proteins for meatless meats, elastomeric foams and high performance textiles often referred to globally as Mushroom Leather.

MyBacon

Ecovative's flagship breakfast protein is [https://myforestfoods.com/ MyBacon] currently in distribution in the United States from Ecovative's spinout company MyForest Foods - established in 2020. MyBacon is available in Whole Foods, Fairway Markets, Earth Fare, Hungry Root, Fresh Direct, Good Eggs, celebrity favorite grocer Erewon and independent grocers.

Forager Foams and Hides

In 2021, Ecovative launched [https://forager.bio/ Forager] to bring high performance mycelium textiles and mycelium foams to the fashion, automotive and aerospace industries. Working with brands like PVH Corp (the parent company of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein), Reformation, Wolverine World Wide and ECCO Leather.

File:Material by Ecovative.jpg

Ecovative offer a 'Grow-it-yourself' kit allowing people to create mushroom materials themselves, used to create products including lamp shades.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/12/diy-kit-lets-make-designs-mushrooms/|title=DIY Kit Lets You Make Designs Out of Mushrooms|magazine=Wired|last1=Stinson |first1=Liz }} These can be ordered through their mycelium supply website www.grow.bio.

Working with the University of Aachen, Dutch designer Eric Klarenbeek used 3D printing technology to gown a chair without using plastic, metal or wood.{{cite web|url=http://inhabitat.com/3d-printed-mycelium-chair-sprouts-living-mushrooms/|title=3D-Printed Mycelium Chair Sprouts Living Mushrooms!|date=4 October 2014 }}

Popular Science featured the composite insulation in its 2009 Invention Awards.{{cite news|last=Hsu|first=Jeremy|title=Green Styrofoam: An Eco-Friendly Insulation Made From Mushrooms|url=http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2009-05/green-styrofoam|accessdate=27 July 2012|newspaper=Popular Science|date=June 2009}} A season six episode of CSI: New York, also featured the insulation as lab technicians tested the materials' flame resistant properties after finding particles on a victim's clothing.{{cite web|title=It's Greensulate - CSI-NY goes high tech; features Ecovative Design!|url=http://nciia.org/node/1021|publisher=NCIIA|accessdate=27 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602001141/http://nciia.org/node/1021|archive-date=2 June 2012|url-status=dead}} Packaging World magazine featured Ecovative on its July 2011 cover, suggesting that the company is poised to "be a game changer in various industries."{{cite news|last=Reynolds|first=Pat|title=Are mushrooms the future of protective packaging?|newspaper=Packaging World|date=July 2011}}{{cite web|title=EcoCradle Mushroom Packaging|url=http://digital.turn-page.com/i/35703|accessdate=22 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190045/http://digital.turn-page.com/i/35703|archive-date=29 October 2013|url-status=dead}} The World Economic Forum also recognized Ecovative as a Technology Pioneer in 2011.{{cite web|title=Clean Tech|url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TP_Brochure_2011.pdf|work=Empowering People and Transforming Society: The World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers 2011|publisher=World Economic Forum|accessdate=25 July 2012|pages=12}} Additionally, the founders were featured on the PBS show, Biz Kid$, in episode 209, "The Green Economy & You."{{cite web|title=Biz Kid$|url=https://www.dcmp.org/guides/TID7068.pdf}}

Since 2019 Ecovative has been feature in the Histoy of the Future on PBS - Season1 Episode 2, Merlin Sheldrakes book Entangled Life, as well as the documentary Web of Life.

The development of the material and processes has been supported by the Picnic Green Challenge, the Environmental Protection Agency, National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA), ASME, the National Science Foundation, NYSERDA, 3M New Ventures, The DOEN Foundation, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a license agreement with Sealed Air.{{cite news|last=Allen|first=Pam|title=Ecovative's growth plans assured through equity investment assures|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/print-edition/2011/05/27/ecovatives-growth-plans-assured.html?page=all|accessdate=26 July 2012|newspaper=The Business Review|date=27 May 2011}}{{cite web|title=Ecovative Design: Greensulate, Growing America's green economy with research and innovation|date=26 March 2015 |url=http://www.epa.gov/ncer/publications/scienceaction/ncse-greensulate.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602021150/http://www.epa.gov/ncer/publications/scienceaction/ncse-greensulate.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 2, 2011|publisher=US Environment Protection Agency}} In addition to an array of awards, Ecovative's materials have been extensively highlighted in Material ConneXion libraries around the world.{{cite news|last=Dent|first=Andrew|title=A library of new materials: Exotic, but applicable|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/07/library-new-materials|publisher=The Economist|accessdate=24 July 2012|date=11 July 2012}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.ecovative.com Ecovative's homepage]

Category:Biomaterials

Category:Companies based in Albany County, New York

Category:Manufacturing companies based in New York (state)