The Paradigm Shift: EcoCradle represents a move away from traditional manufacturing toward growing materials. This technology uses agricultural by-products to create compostable and biodegradable packaging and insulation.
Key Components:
- Mycelium Power: It uses fungi (mycelium) as a natural resin. The mycelium grows on wood chips or agricultural waste, binding the fragments together into a solid structure.
- Biomimicry: It imitates the cyclical material flows of nature, replacing harmful plastics like EPS (expanded polystyrene).
Architectural Application: Beyond packaging, this technology has been used to create “fungi walls” and bricks. Notable examples include the Hi-Fi Tower at MoMA PS1, built from mycelium, corn, and hemp bricks, which was entirely compostable at the end of its life cycle.
