When combined with agricultural waste, mushroom material is rapidly renewable, naturally fire resistant, easily molded, high performing and cost competitive. The part of the mushroom that is most important for Ecovative is the mycelium or the mushroom roots.
The company has two ways of growing products. Molds allow the team to use standard or custom shapes to create products for packaging and home accessories. The process to develop this natural packaging sounds like something right out of science experiment book.
First, the team collects and cleans agricultural waste from farmers. Then, they introduce it to mycelium in reusable trays and step back to let nature do its magic. Amazingly, after just a few days, the parts are fully grown. At this point the newly formed parts are removed from the trays, dried and shipped to customers.
The second way Ecovative grows products is through their system of mCore Structural Panels. The team grows large blocks of mycelium composites which are used in structural applications such as door cores, furniture cores, and building construction. The result is a material that holds up very well of conventional packaging and can be used as a direct replacement for a range of different types of materials.
‘Ecovative’ Makes Plastic-Free Packaging Out Of Mushrooms [Green Matters]