reduce, reuse, reclaim?

Anyone who's ever visited our warehouse (or read our post about those painted reclaimed planks) will know that we're always excited by new ways to showcase items that had another life.

Whether it's eggshells used as vase facing,

using discarded teak scraps to make a mirror frame,



transforming old bottles into frosty blue vessels, or simply giving some love to a starfish top that just a tad too small to be a table,



we just love it when amazing results come from the unexpected.

So for a couple of weeks, we've been pondering a profile of Ecovative Design in L Magazine at the end of April. Not for nothing, we can almost always be enticed to read articles titled "The Death of Styrofoam?" They were profiled in Treehugger & Popular Science last December, and have even showed up on CSI:NY.

Stumbling on methods of manufacture is certainly is of intellectual interest for the sustainably-minded. However, it's of distinct interest here at FTS. If for no other reason than trying to make sure your eco-friendly principles manifest themselves in all your dealings - including packing material for cross-country shipments - is always a challenge. Foam packing peanuts simply can't compare to this...

photo from Ecovative

That's why the profile about Ecovative's Ecocradle Packaging was amazing. Using materials like mushroom roots (aka fungal mycelium), seed husks, and even cotton burrs to create a cushioned, strong, and mold-able alternative to modern petrol-based styrofoam is inspired not only because you can dispose of it by tossing it in the garden,
photo from Ecovative

but it takes the refuse from agricultural production and gives it a new life.

If - like some of us - you're a bit of a specs nut, you'll even be impressed that the folks at Ecovative think enough of us put material specifications front and center, which is further proof of how serious they are about moving from pesky start-up to the global standard that could be used regionally in different ways depending on indigenous agricultural materials.

When we think about all the packing peanuts, foam spacers, and maybe even shrink wrap that could be grown for us instead of extruded it's an encouraging proposition. Ok, so maybe talk of using fungal mycelium as a bonding resin, saving money on costs by using agricultural waste products, and transforming lignin & cellulose into bio-composites doesn't whet everyone's appetite. However, if you're concerned at all about making changes the help our environment, and styrofoam that grows like a garden doesn't move you, we don't know what will.

photos from Ecovative