MycoWorks

MycoWorks is a San Francisco-based startup which produces sustainable products and apparels from fungi. The company was founded in 2013 and produces weatherproof materials using the fungi "Ganoderma lucidum" and "Pleurotus ostreatus".[1] They use the production method (which is similar to casting) to make furniture, bricks, footwear, and leather.

MycoWorks
TypePrivate
IndustryApparel industry, biotech
FounderSophia Wang (Chief of Staff and Culture)
Phil Ross (CTO)
Headquarters
San Francisco
,
United States
Key people
Matthew L. Scullin (CEO)
Websitewww.mycoworks.com

Launch

The company began when Chief Technical Officer Phil Ross began an art project by adding chemicals to different fungal growth stages.[2]

Technology

MycoWorks produces its products through a process which involves steam cooking bags of sawdust (or cornhusks) for several hours in airtight bags (to sterilise the growing medium), after which the sawdust or cornhusks are moved into a mold (which has the shape of the final product, ie furniture, ...). In the mold, mushroom tissue (mycelium) is introduced which feeds on the growing medium. The mycelium then grows (into the shape of the mold). Lastly the fungi is killed by putting the whole into an oven, hence stopping additional growth.[3][4]

According to co-founder Phil Ross, production of this material is similar to making ravioli from scratch, and the final product is more resilient than cement.[5][6][7]

Another product made by the company is a leather-like textile. Unlike traditional animal hide leather, the product is made from a mix of fungus and wood fibers. It can be made in any size.[8] The leather product can be made in sheets up to 27 square feet.[9]

See also

References
  1. Advanced Materials From Fungal Mycelium: Fabrication and Tuning of Physical Properties
  2. "The Fungi In Your Future". Science Friday.
  3. Making Furniture from Fungi
  4. Mycotecture (Phil Ross)
  5. "Everything you own could one day be made from mushrooms". Tech Insider.
  6. Stone, Maddie. "The Technology That Will Build Our Future May Be Found In Mushrooms". Gizmodo.
  7. "FUNGI – THE SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE TO PLASTIC & WOOD". Permaculture Institute.
  8. "Object of the Moment: Mycelium Leather by MycoWorks". Architect Magazine.
  9. "The Fungi In Your Future". Science Friday.
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