Pyrus™

Pyrus™ is the first solid wood material produced from bacterial cellulose without cutting down a tree or using harsh chemicals.

Production process

Bacteria produce a form of cellulose that consists of a strong and dense network of fibres. It is also a notable by-product of the kombucha industry and can be grown from various kinds of organic waste streams, including agricultural residue, spare brewery liquids, and even textile mill runoff. 

After the bacterial cellulose is grown or collected, it is blended to an even consistency before being mixed with eco-friendly binders and dyes. 

Then, it is dried out under carefully controlled conditions to form a solid piece of Pyrus™.

Material properties

On first observation, Pyrus™ has the same dark colouration, density, and hard surface as several tropical hardwoods. Early data tests are proving even more encouraging. In terms of Shore D hardness, which involves pressing a sharp metal pin into the material, Pyrus™ consistently comes out with at least a 5% higher surface hardness than African Ebony, which is already one of the toughest and most expensive woods on Earth. 

And unlike the hardwoods, the bacterial cellulose fibres make Pyrus™ far less prone to cracking in a solid state. 

While there are many long-term possibilities, Pyrus™ is currently geared towards replacing tropical hardwoods like ebony and mahogany. 

Availability

Made in the US.

Circular features

In tropical rainforests, the logging of hardwoods is a leading cause of forest degradation, with about 30 other trees destroyed for every expensive hardwood tree that loggers seek out and over 90% of a harvested tree's content wasted from forest to market. Also, loggers create some of the first roads into a forest -- opening paths for other groups like ranchers -- and the cut-down trees they leave behind help fires spread much more easily.

Pyrus™ is a sustainable alternative to wood and uses by-products of various industries, thus forming a circular loop of substitution and waste utilization.

Raw Materials

• Bacterial cellulose (>85% of material content)
• Eco-binders 
• Dyes

Afterlife Plan

• Biodegradable
• Compostable (Industrial)
• Compostable (home)

Supplier 

Symmetry Wood

Image source: Symmetry Wood