Grantee Research Project Results
Growth of a Fungal Biopolymer to Displace Common Synthetic Polymers and Exotic Woods
EPA Contract Number: EPD13021Title: Growth of a Fungal Biopolymer to Displace Common Synthetic Polymers and Exotic Woods
Investigators: Greetham, Lucy
Small Business: Ecovative Design, LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: May 15, 2013 through November 14, 2013
Project Amount: $80,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2013) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Innovation in Manufacturing
Description:
The use of plastic (polyethylene, Polypropylene, polyurethane and poly lactic acid) has grown and continues to grow steadily because of the materials’ high strength-to-weigh ratios, low cost and ease of molding as compared to conventional natural materials. Unfortunately, almost all commercial plastics are notoriously unsustainable due to fossil fuel-based constituents, the wasteful and energy-intensive manufacturing processes used, and the difficulty or inability to compost at the end of life. Academic and industrial researchers have investigated recycling petroleum-based polymers, incorporating bio-derived polymers to reduce intake of petroleum, and pure biopolymers (cellulosic plastic, PH) to produce more biocompatible plastic with varying degrees of success, but all attempts have still fallen short of an ideal "bio-plastic."
Supplemental Keywords:
bio-plastic, mycological polymers, renewableProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase II:
Mycological Biopolymer as a Replacement for Expanded Plastic Foams | 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.