AWARD YEAR
2023
CATEGORY
Community
GOALS
Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities & Communities, Responsible Consumption & Production, Climate Action, Life On Land
KEYWORDS
mycelium, sustainable fashion , biofabrication, circular economy, alternative leather
COUNTRY
Italy
DESIGNED BY
ephea
WEBSITE
https://www.sqim.bio/
ephea
ephea is a new class of mycelium-materials defining high standards in the alternative leather market
How does it work?
ephea™ is an unprecedented class of naturally superior, functional, high quality materials, for fashion and beyond. ephea™ is not a leather replacement, but rather a set of products setting a new standard, thanks to the values, functionalities and overall opportunities provided by mycelium-based biofabrication.
The technologies developed for creating ephea™ are fundamentally rooted in (re-)generative processes, offering unconstrained opportunities. This, as opposed to extractive approaches and to their inherent limitations. We fuse our advanced understanding of biology with the unique skills of our microbial partners, to create exceptional and bespoke sustainable solutions with multiple added values.
Why is it needed?
ephea™ is a revolutionary and collaborative product contributing to a more ethically- and environmentally-responsible fashion industry.
ephea™ materials are produced using organic residues from other value chains, as feedstock. ephea’s production process drastically minimizes the amount of input resources, while attentively avoiding the use of toxic and dangerous compounds.
ephea™ materials are not made of plastics and do not release microplastics in the environment. Their introduction in industries such as fashion and automotive contributes to reducing the use of synthetic fibres, and to prevent pollution.
ephea™ challenges the notion of waste in the field of material bio-fabrication. It is created by valorising low-value agroindustrial residues and making use of minimal amounts of energy, land, and chemicals, to biofabricate high added value materials, while emitting trace amounts of CO2. Thus, resulting in truly responsible, fully organic and biodegradable raw materials.
How does it improve life?
With ephea™, SQIM brings to market an entirely new class of flexible mycelium materials, to positively affect sectors whose environmental impact is dramatically relevant, including among others Fashion, Automotive and Furniture, with all their respective segmentations.
ephea™ is not a leather replacement, but rather a wide range of products setting a new standard, thanks to the values, functionalities, and overall unprecedented opportunities provided by mycelium-based biofabrication.
A revolutionary and collaborative work for contributing to a more ethically and environmentally responsible industry.