Ecovative

Ecovative is a biomaterials company that uses mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, to grow sustainable packaging, leather alternatives, and other products that replace plastics and animal-derived materials. Founded in 2007 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute by Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre, the company pioneered the commercialization of mycelium manufacturing and has spent nearly two decades refining a platform that grows materials in controlled environments rather than extracting them from petroleum or livestock.

Ecovative develops and licenses mycelium-based materials to consumer brands and industrial partners seeking compostable, low-impact alternatives to foam packaging, synthetic leather, and other hard-to-recycle products. By growing rather than manufacturing, the company's approach dramatically reduces the environmental footprint of everyday materials, offering brands a credible path to circularity without sacrificing performance, and helping shift entire supply chains away from fossil-fuel-based inputs.