Based in Herzogenaurach, Germany, PUMA has partnered with Ecovative, a company that uses mushroom technology to make a replacement for plastic foam packaging. Fungal mycelium (the equivalent of mushroom “roots”) is grown on agricultural crop waste and is molded to form this unique packaging called EcoCradle. The PUMA boards will ship from manufacturer Clear Carbon and Components in Bristol, RI, in the EcoCradle packaging. Once the boards arrive safely at their destination, the packaging can be broken up and used as mulch, composted at home, or even used as a biodegradable beach toy.
“PUMA has a mission to become the most sustainable sportlifestyle company in the world, and partnering with a company like Ecovative brings us one step closer to this goal,” says Antonio Bertone, chief marketing officer for PUMA AG. “When we [developed] the board, not only did we set out to create a one-of-a-kind paddleboard from a performance point of view, we also wanted to be mindful of the environmental impact.”
In the past, many boards were packaged with petroleum-based foam products that can be difficult to recycle. EcoCradle packaging is an environmentally responsible alternative that is renewable, and biodegradable. The mycelium in the EcoCradle packaging grows around agricultural by-products like seed husks or plant stalks to any shape. Within 5-7 days, in the dark, with no watering, and no petrochemical inputs, the mycelium envelops the by-products, binding them into a strong and beautiful packaging part.
“We are thrilled to be supporting PUMA in the launch of their new paddleboard,” said Eben Bayer, Ecovative's CEO and co-founder. “They are creating high performance products that their customers love, while also working diligently to enhance the planet by incorporating the state of the art in sustainable materials.”
