Ecovative, a N.Y. start-up, has come up with a fungal solution to home insulation and Styrofoam packaging.
Greensulate is made from a mixture of water, recycled paper and rice hulls (a form of agricultural waste) which is injected with living mushroom cells inside a mold and then placed in a dark environment. There the cells begin to grow and sprout thousands of cellular strands. In one to two weeks, the result is ready to be dried into a panel of insulation that can be used to keep a house warm in winter and cool in summer, or to protect a package during shipment.
Greensulate is fire retardant, and it's also unlikely to trigger mold and fungus allergies, by virtue of the drying process. And while its polystyrene counterparts take up landfill space indefinitely, Greensulate is highly compostable, enriching the soil surrounding it and even aiding the breakdown of other nearby waste.
Like all start up’s they are actively seeking strategic partners to give them a helping hand, definitely worth a pop!
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