If you’re writing a blog post or news article about Ecovative, here are some basics for you.

1. Ecovative Design LLC (NOT Evocative) was founded in 2007 by two Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) grads, Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre.

2. Both of Ecovative’s products, EcoCradle™ and Greensulate™ are made using a similar process. We take regionally sourced agricultural byproducts like rice hulls or cotton gin trash and use our special patent pending process to introduce fungal mycelium, which is basically mushroom roots. The mycelium grows for 5-10 days transforming loose agricultural byproducts into an all-natural rigid material. The finished material has similar material properties and cost as synthetic foams like expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam).

3. EcoCradle™ and Greensulate™ are 100% biodegradable. They are aerobically and anaerobically compostable, which means they will biodegrade well in your garden, home compost pile or in a landfill.

4. Our materials are safe. There are no spores in our process, so there are no allergen concerns, and you never have to worry about mushrooms growing. When you get an EcoCradle™ packaging buffer or Greensulate™ rigid board insulation, it’s just as dead as the 2x4’s in the walls of your house. There are no VOCs, volatile organic compounds, and it’s so safe, you could even eat it (although it’s non-nutritious and doesn’t taste good).

5. Ecovative is shipping EcoCradle™ to select customers at the end of 2009. We are continuing to seek out companies who share our environmental values and are looking for an alternative material for packaging. We expect to make Greensulate™ commercially available at the end of 2010.