Tag: <span>Recycling</span>

RT3 Member Mycocycle Wins 1871 Momentum Award as an Industry Disrupter

The 1871 Momentum Awards is the celebration of tech innovation in Chicago.

(Bolingbrook, Illinois) – Mycocycle, Inc., a leader in using mycoremediation to process toxins out of waste, was awarded 1871’s Momentum Award in the Industry Disrupter category. The award is presented to a company that has developed or introduced an ingenious, non-traditional, and innovative product or service that has significantly disrupted the industry.

“It is such an honor to be recognized by 1871 for our efforts to eliminate toxins from waste and turn it into a renewable resource,” said Joanne Rodriguez, Mycocycle founder and CEO. “We’ve received tremendous support from the Chicago-area tech community and are thankful for their recognition of how we are trying to divert waste from landfills and create a more efficient and environmentally friendly waste-to-resource process.”

“Chicago tech is on fire right now, and the 14th Annual Momentum Awards perfectly showcased how our expansive and engaged community of innovators are playing a crucial role in spurring Chicago’s economic recovery and job growth,” said 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler. “Our group of finalists and winners this year are creating necessary solutions every day that are building a better future in their communities, and it was our honor to come together both in-person and virtually from around the world to celebrate their wonderful achievements.”

About Mycocycle

Mycocycle, Inc. was founded in October 2018. It is a woman-owned, early stage cleantech company using mycoremediation to process toxins out of waste. Mycocycle was the winner of the 2021 1871 Momentum Awards as an Industry Disrupter, recognized as a Finalist in FastCompany’s “2021 World Changing Ideas” Awards issue, recognized as a Forbes “Next1000” Entrepreneur, selected as a Top 100 Global Deeptech Pioneer by Hello Tomorrow, and a 2020 Innovation selection in the EPA’s Innovation and America Recycle’s Fair. Mycocycle has been named a 2021 Illinois Qualified New Business Venture under the Angel Investment Tax Credit Program. This program provides Illinois-based investors a state tax credit of 25 percent of their investment up to $2 million. For more information visit www.mycocycle.com.

About The Momentum Awards

The Momentum Awards, now in its 14th year, is an annual celebration of tech innovation across Chicago and beyond, attended by 1871’s full community of innovators, leaders, and civic supporters and partners. It is the largest gathering of the tech community and the primary fundraiser for 1871.

Finalists in all seven categories were selected from a competitive and impressive pool of ~200 nominees. Nominees were generated through public nomination and then deliberated on by 100+ judges who span Chicago’s business and innovation sectors. Winners were determined by a combination of public vote and vote by the 1871 Board of Directors.

RT3 member Mycocycle announces it has joined The REMADE® Institute

REMADE is the only national institute focused entirely on the development of innovative technologies to accelerate the U.S.’s transition to a Circular Economy.

Mycocycle, Inc., a leader in using mycoremediation to process toxins out of waste, announced today that it has become a member of The REMADE Institute, a public-private partnership established by the United States Department of Energy.  

“It was important for Mycocycle to become a member of The REMADE Institute because our core values are aligned,” explained Mycocycle CEO and Founder Joanne Rodriguez. “As we continue to imagine a world without waste, the development of platforms that explore new uses for our waste streams is vital. Through the collaboration of industry, academia, and national labs we know we will get further faster.

Mycocycle has already joined forces with some of the REMADE members to tackle new opportunities around waste streams within the healthcare system. “We are excited about opportunities to work with all of the thought leaders represented through REMADE Institute focused on driving systemic changes in industrial processes which will result in lowering our carbon emissions now and in the future,” concluded Rodriguez.

About Mycocycle

Mycocycle, Inc. was founded in October 2018. It is a woman-owned, early stage cleantech company using mycoremediation to process toxins out of waste. Mycocycle was recognized as a Finalist in Fast Company’s 2020 and 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards issue, a presenter for NREL’s 2020 Industry Growth Forum, a 2020 Innovation selection in the EPA’s Innovation and America Recycle’s Fair, and the winner of the Cleantech Open National 2020 Resiliency Challenge.  Mycocycle has been named a 2021 Illinois Qualified New Business Venture under the Angel Investment Tax Credit Program. This program provides Illinois-based investors a state tax credit of 25 percent of their investment up to $2 million.

For more information visit www.mycocycle.com.

About REMADE

Founded in 2017, REMADE is a Manufacturing USA™ Institute and public-private partnership established by the U.S. Department of Energy. REMADE is the only national institute focused entirely on the development of innovative technologies to accelerate the U.S.’s transition to a Circular Economy. In partnership with industry, academia, and national laboratories, REMADE enables early-stage applied research and development that will create jobs, dramatically reduce embodied energy and greenhouse gas emissions, and increase the supply and use of recycled materials. The cumulative, five-year embodied energy savings, greenhouse gas reduction and increase in recycled materials use expected to result from REMADE’s investment is approximately 1 Quad of energy, about 50 million metric tons of CO2equivalent greenhouse gas reduction, and more than a 40 million metric tons per year increase in the supply and use of recycled materials, respectively. For additional information about REMADE, visit www.remadeinstitute.org.

RT3 Member GAF Manufactures Industry’s First Asphalt Shingles Containing Recycled Waste Shingles

GAF, a Standard Industries company and the largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer in North America, announced a new patented shingle recycling process that has successfully produced the industry’s first asphalt roofing shingles containing recycled material from post-consumer and post-manufacture waste shingles that may have otherwise been landfilled. 

GAF asphalt shingles manufactured with recycled material from post-consumer waste shingles

This breakthrough represents an important milestone in delivering more sustainable, affordable roofing materials and has significant implications for improving sustainability and circularity across the roofing supply chain.

“This latest innovation from GAF represents the first major step towards a circular economy for asphalt roofing shingles,” said Jim Schnepper, President, GAF. “We envision a future where every homeowner, when replacing their roof, can do so with high-quality, affordable shingles made with recycled asphalt.”

The new shingle recycling process reduces the amount of raw materials required to make new shingles without compromising product quality or performance. During its successful tests, GAF was able to reclaim more than 90 percent of the waste shingle material, by weight, to be reused in the manufacture of new shingles. GAF additionally demonstrated its ability to manufacture new shingles containing up to 15 percent recycled material that were UL-certified for their safety and effectiveness. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued GAF three patents covering this new shingle recycling process. 

GAF is committing more than $100 million to bring the recycling process to commercial scale, including the development of a pilot operation in 2021 that will enable the company to conduct additional research and development on its process. Through the pilot GAF expects to assess the maximum amount of recycled asphalt that can be used to make new shingles meeting the company’s high standards while optimizing the manufacturing process prior to scaling it across its operations.

“This innovation has the potential to reduce a significant waste stream in the U.S. and represents an important advance within the roofing industry,” said Tad Radzinski, Certification Officer, GreenCircle Certified, a third-party certification organization. “Through the recovery of valuable end-of-life roofing materials, GAF is setting the course to reduce environmental impacts across the shingle product life cycle and provide a truly circular, sustainable solution for roofing products.” 

As the leading manufacturer in North America—where one in four residential roofs are covered by GAF—the company is uniquely positioned to extend the impact of this innovation across manufacturing facilities to help reduce landfill waste and continue to offer more sustainable roofing options to its customers.

About GAF
GAF is North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer and a part of Standard Industries. GAF’s products include a comprehensive portfolio of roofing and waterproofing solutions for residential and commercial properties as well as for civil engineering applications. GAF provides end-to-end support for architects, specifiers, contractors and property owners seeking high-quality performance and technical guidance. Through its innovative and customer-driven solutions, the company has protected homes, businesses, families and communities for over 130 years. Learn more at www.GAF.com.

RT3 Member Mycocycle Launches Raise on REG CF Platform

The company is seeking funding for its technology that uses fungi to recycle asphalt roofing materials into reusable resources.

(Bolingbrook, Illinois) December 1, 2020 – Mycocycle, Inc., a leader in using mycoremediation to process toxins out of waste and a member of the Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), today announced the launch of its StartEngine equity crowdfunding campaign. The StartEngine platform gives the public the opportunity to invest in startup companies in return for equity in the company.

“We are thrilled to be participating in the new world of equity crowdfunding,” said Joanne Rodriguez, Mycocycle founder and CEO, as well as a roofing industry veteran. “Mycocycle is committed to using the science of mushrooms to divert roofing waste from landfills. With only 15 percent of landfill space left, we must work to find a better solution. Together, we can change how we view waste: as a resource, not a burden.”

Mycocycle uses mushrooms to remove toxins from waste and convert it into reusable resources. The company is an early-stage, pre-revenue startup that has lab-based proof of concept on multiple treatment methodologies. The patent-pending process accelerates and emulates the process of breaking down materials in nature, but in an enclosed and controlled environment. The company is raising funding to support the simultaneous scale up and derisk of its technology.

“We encourage anyone interested in helping the environment to consider investing,” Rodriguez stated. “With the help of crowdfunding, we can help launch the waste management industry into the future.”

Learn more about the company’s mission, goals and growth plan by visiting www.startengine.com/mycocycle.

About Mycocycle

Mycocycle, Inc. was founded in October 2018. It is a woman-owned, early stage cleantech company using mycoremediation to process toxins out of waste. Mycocycle was recognized as a Finalist in FastCompany’s “2020 World Changing Ideas” Awards issue, a presenter for NREL’s 2020 Industry Growth Forum, a 2020 Innovation selection in the EPA’s Innovation and America Recycle’s Fair, and the winner of the Cleantech Open National 2020 Resiliency Challenge. For more information visit www.mycocycle.com