Applications & Implications
Reflecting on the scope and the project plan of my final project.
What will it do?
The Myke Board is a mycelium-based surfboard that seeks to replace the harmful materials in modern surfboards (polyurethane and expanded polystyrene) with more sustainable materials that are not harmful to the environment or to the shaper. The base substrate is made up of agricultural waste that is then joined together through a fungal strain known for its material properties. The result is a low-dense, hydrophobic material that can be shaped like a surfboard and has a similar performance.
This project is two-fold, it also looks to deconstruct existing polyurethane boards. Under certain conditions, some fungal strains are able to break the chains of polymers in polyurethane materials into simple monomers. This then serves as a source of carbon for the fungal strain, effectively recycling a previously non recyclable material enzymatically.
The purpose of this project is to serve as both an eco-friendly alternative to plastic surfboards and also to strengthen the link between the surfer and the ocean that has deteriorated over the decades. It highlights the troubling realities of the surfing industry and seeks to alter the perception of the tools we currently use to experience the world around us.
Who's done that beforehand?
Companies that focus on mycelium such as Ecovative and a couple design studios in the world have prototyped mycelium surfboards with varying degrees of success.
What materials and components will be used?
The Myke Board uses various agricultural waste for its substrate and features a mycelium structure to glue it all togehter.
Where will it come from?
The Myke Board will come from growing spaces that are sterilised and optimised for mycelium growth. Ideally, this blueprint of a growing space can be easily standardised and scaled to various locations.
How much will they cost?
Due to its lack of research and its time of growth, a full sized surfboard would be quite costly at the present time. The idea is to optimise the process so as to substantially reduce the cost of the product.
What parts and systems will be made?
Some of the parts that are to be made are: the main core of the surfboard which would replace the polyurethane core, the epoxy coat, the plastic leash, the fin (to be replaced with recycled plastic), and the grip (to be replaced with a cork-based material).
What processes will be used?
Some processes that are used are mould making through designing a CAD of the model, milling a mould, adapting it to mycelium, growing the organism, processing it by compresssing it and then cooking it, adding all of the composing accesories, and finishing with a coat of bio-resin.
What questions need to be answered?
Are normal shapers going to be able to add this method of surfboard-making to their repertoire? Or is it going to be exclusive to those that can afford a sterile environment? Is it going to perform as well as a plastic surfboard? Is it a viable business model to rely on an organism and the risk that it entails?
How will it be evaluated?
Quite simply, it can be a fantastic visual and even material replacement to surfboards, but if it doesn't perform as well as a surfboard then it will be evaluated poorly.