Ecovative, headquartered in Green Island, New York, is making its European patent on MycoComposite mycelium materials open to all individuals and businesses who wish to use it in their own innovations in Europe.

MycoComposite is a combination of only two ingredients – mushroom mycelium and shredded plant fibres, such as kenaf, hemp stalks and other plant-based waste from agriculture. The mycelium binds the material together into a natural composite that is highly versatile in a range of applications. The process requires little energy and the final product is 100% bio-based. It also enables the creation of products that are free of forever chemicals and other toxic substances like formaldehyde.

The patent outlines a strategic blueprint for the creation of eco-friendly and renewable mushroom mycelium composites, offering a promising solution to curtail CO2 emissions across diverse industries.

“The goal of Ecovative has always been to provide the ‘picks and shovels’ for a new generation of businesses realising the potential of mycelium technology,” says Ecovative co-founder and CEO Eben Bayer. “The growing demand for environmentally beneficial products and processes is creating immense new opportunities – not to reinvent the wheel, but to change what the wheel is made of – and we’re excited to see the new discoveries and scalable solutions made with this versatile technology.”

The European Open Patent Programme for MycoComposite is intended to encourage innovation in plastic-free products. The patent is already in use around the world in protective packaging, construction materials, architecture and other applications to replace petrochemical use. Several successful businesses have already been launched using MycoComposite, notably Netherlands-based Loop Biotech which makes a popular line of mycelium coffins and urns.

“Loop Biotech has seen first-hand the huge demand for planet-friendly solutions enabled by mycelium materials,” said Bob Hendrikx, founder of Loop Biotech. “I started this company to help humanity leave a positive footprint on the Earth, which is only possible when we collaborate with living organisms like fungi.”

A sharp rise of interest in Europe for entrepreneurial applications of MycoComposite make it an ideal environment to test the potential of open access patents to spur an increase in innovations and businesses around mycelium technology. MycoComposite licensing and partnership opportunities will continue to be available outside of Europe supported by Ecovative’s state-of-the-art spawn and substrate facilities. The company owns numerous patents and patent applications related to mycelium manufacturing and product development globally.

www.ecovative.com