Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Mycological Biopolymer as a Replacement for Expanded Plastic Foams
EPA Contract Number: EPD15005Title: Mycological Biopolymer as a Replacement for Expanded Plastic Foams
Investigators: Greetham, Lucy , Araldi, Sarah
Small Business: Ecovative Design, LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: November 1, 2014 through October 31, 2016 (Extended to October 31, 2018)
Project Amount: $295,579
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2014) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Innovation in Manufacturing
Description:
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The MycoFlex™ biopolymer represents a new class of high performance, bio-derived polymers. The MycoFlex™ biopolymer is composed for fungal mycelium, the vegetative tissue of mushrooms, and is grown exclusively from agricultural residue. The structure of the biopolymer is regulated through its incubation environment, which enables the modulation of the tissue’s performance in several ways.
Conclusions:
The MycoFlex™ biopolymer’s performance has enabled several product opportunities and has received significant interest from multiple industries. A resounding number of inquiries from market leaders in the footwear industry, coupled with a high value product entry point, propelled Ecovative to develop a grown biopolymer with a range of properties, including durability and flexibility, for applications replacing ethylene vinyl acetate.
Commercialization:
After further development and garnering industry feedback, we received interest from furniture insulation, recreation equipment manufacturers, for cushioning material, high performance insulation, and elastic foams respectively. Furthermore, the MycoFlex™ biopolymer has attracted the most interest as a leather-like textile from a number of parties within the existing leather value chain (commercial tanneries to product brands). After evaluating the aforementioned markets and the technical hurdles associated with each, the company focused on productization efforts for a leather. A leather replacement represents a consumer facing application that supports a higher market entry price point, requires a low initial volume, while still addressing an important commercial and environmental challenge. In 2018, Ecovative licensed this underlying technology to its first commercial partner for the MycoFlex™ biopolymer platform.
SBIR Phase I:
Growth of a Fungal Biopolymer to Displace Common Synthetic Polymers and Exotic Woods | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.