Under the forward-thinking leadership of Valentina Dipietro and Olivia Page, the female-founded Mykor is revolutionizing the construction landscape with its eco-conscious, cutting-edge solutions. Hailing from Portugal, this start-up has ambitious plans to decarbonize the building sector with its mycelium-based, sustainable construction materials.
Traditional building materials leave a massive carbon footprint even before a structure’s lights flicker on. Embodied carbon, which accounts for 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions, encompasses the total emissions generated during the production of these materials. Present-day insulation options, including glass, stone wool, and EPS, are notorious for their high emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
Enter MycoFoam, Mykor’s debut product—a mycelium rigid insulation that boasts impressive thermal and acoustic performance. Crafted from 100% renewable bio-based waste resources, MycoFoam’s production process consumes 90% less water, utilizes 40% less energy, and emits 60% less CO2 compared to EPS. Competing economically and functionally with traditional insulations like plastic foams and mineral wools, MycoFoam achieves this with only a fraction of its embodied carbon.
Mykor further enhances its environmental impact by using locally sourced waste-material substrates for mycelial growth and powering its Portuguese production site exclusively with renewable energy. And for skeptics, Mykor offers a recycling service, accepting used panels for repurposing into new ones.
Striving for waste negativity and complete circularity within their production, Mykor is reshaping the construction world, one eco-friendly innovation at a time.
Update 7 June 2023
Mykor setting up our factory in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal and is one step closer to starting manufacturing.
