Mycelium is the root structure of mushrooms. In nature it grows, self-assembles and holds the forest floor together. In 2007, two Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students, Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre, devised a process for growing mushroom mycelium into high-performance, environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional plastic foam packaging, insulation, and other synthetic materials.
They made their discovery while taking a VentureWell-funded course,The Inventors’s Studio, taught by Professior Burt Swersey. Today, Ecovative Design is producing materials that are healthier for people, the planet, and profits.
Watch the video and experience the Ecovative story.