Ecovative Design LLC, 70 Cohoes Avenue, Green Island, NY 12183
Fortifiber Building Systems Group, 300 Industrial Dr., Fernley, NV 89408
For Immediate Release
FERNLEY, NV and GREEN ISLAND, NY – November 15, 2013 – Ecovative Design LLC and Fortifiber Building Systems Group® today announced a strategic partnership to develop and sell insulated sheathing boards made from Ecovative’s unique Myco Foam, which combines crop wastes and naturally grown mycelium As part of the agreement, Fortifiber will be the exclusive licensee for the products in the United States. Other terms are not disclosed.
As the green building movement has taken hold, many builders are focused on ways to improve the R-value of a structure’s walls but have been hesitant to use ecologically harmful materials like polystyrene foams. This new product will provide comparable insulating performance and structural support while avoiding harmful chemicals and focusing on the complete building lifecycle. Ecovative’s Myco Foam is Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Gold, a certification mark licensed by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.
“Until now, builders have had to compromise their ecological objectives in order to construct a building with great energy efficiency,” said Chris Yount, President of Fortifiber. “Our customers have continually looked to us to deliver a durable and efficient structure that bears in mind the true lifecycle cost of the building.”
“Our goal has been to expand the sustainable advantages of Myco Foam to the building industry,” said Eben Bayer, CEO of Ecovative. “This partnership allows us to quickly launch into a new market with a company that has led construction innovation for 75 years.”
Alongside Fortifiber, Ecovative is testing the performance of Myco Foam with in-house and third-party laboratories. The companies expect to launch a product at the International Builders’ Show® in February 2014. Ecovative will also present a number of innovative new materials at the Greenbuild Expo, booth #2205, November 20-22, 2013.
About Ecovative
Founded in 2007, Ecovative is a materials science company developing a new class of home-compostable bioplastics based on mycelium, an organism akin to a living polymer. Ecovative’s high-performance products serve as environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional foam packaging, insulation, and other plastic-based materials. Ecovative was incubated at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Rensselaer, together with 3M Company and the DOEN Foundation, are significant investors in Ecovative. Ecovative has been recognized with numerous international awards for sustainability and “green” technologies, and was named a Tech Pioneer at the 2011 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as well as the 2013 winner of the Buckminster Fuller Challenge, and the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Prize. Ecovative’s growth has been fueled by grants, prizes, and support from key partners including the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance. For more information, visit www.ecovativedesign.com, and follow @ecovative on Twitter.
About Fortifiber Building Systems Group
Fortifiber Building Systems Group has earned a solid reputation for technical expertise, practical know-how and responsiveness to the needs of the building industry by providing Moisture Control Systems that help protect builders and owners from moisture related problems that can damage residential and commercial buildings. Over its 75-year history, the company has become a trusted partner in the effort to solve moisture related building problems, and a valued advisor to building code officials in local communities on construction issues. For more information, visit www.Fortifiber.com, and follow @Fortifiber on Twitter.
For More Information Contact:
Pat Maye
Fortifiber Building Systems Group
(775) 333-6400
