Eben Bayer Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer Ecovative Design
Eben enjoys using biology to create disruptive solutions that are good for people and the planet. He has evangelized this strategy of bio-adaption to audiences around the world, including presentations at TED Global, PopTech, CGI, and in Davos, and in posts for the New York Times, HBR, and the NCIIA. Eben is the CEO and co-founder Ecovative, an award-winning bio-materials company that grows living organisms into super-sustainable materials and products. Ecovative has been recognized by the World Economic forum as a Tech Pioneer, for its potential impact on climate change by the PL Green Challenge, and recently won the regional environmental quality award from the EPA. Ecovative has been widely covered in the media, including articles in Wired Magazine, Popular Science, and Time. In 2009 Ecovative created Mushroom® packaging, a cost-competitive alternative to Styrofoam™. Mushroom® packaging is grown using mycelium cells, which transform crop waste into lightweight composites in a matter of days. Used by Dell, Puma, and others, the technology has been licensed to SealedAir, who is partnering with Ecovative to expand production through-out North America. Ecovative is now developing this material platform into other markets, including consumer goods, building construction, and vehicle applications. Beyond biological systems, Eben is also interested in augmentative neuroscience, thermodynamics, education, and new monetary systems. He serves on the external advisory board of the ASU Origins project, the business board of Tech Valley High School, and advises start-ups in and around New York. Eben studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he received duel degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Innovation & Design. For the 18 years prior he studied agriculture and farming through hands on learning at his family farm in central Vermont. In his free time Eben likes to hang out around trees, animals, and other non-human’s and to run, bike, and build things.
About Ecovative Design Ecovative’s environmentally responsible products can replace materials ranging from petroleum based expanded plastics (like Styrofoam™) to particle board made using carcinogenic formaldehyde. Our materials are 100% renewable, and primarily made from agricultural byproducts. These low-embodied energy materials can be home composted when they’re no longer needed. Many of the materials and chemicals that are commonly used come from non-renewable fossil fuel resources. However, cheaply extracted petroleum and gas supplies are a thing of the past. Our landfills are filling up, and even when we recycle things properly, it requires a lot of energy only to yield a lower grade material. The future lies in using rapid renewables that can also be returned to the earth at the end of their use. Ecovative is building a bright future, and we’re building that future with sustainable materials.
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