MOGU floor · Project

Mushroom-Based Flooring Tiles Made From Agricultural Waste for Green Buildings

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Imagine taking leftover farm waste — straw, husks, things nobody wants — and letting mushroom roots grow through it to create a solid, beautiful floor tile. That's exactly what MOGU floor does. The result is a 100% bio-based tile that handles fire, noise, and impact better than many conventional options, and when its life is over it goes back to the earth instead of a landfill. It's like nature's own factory floor, grown instead of manufactured.

By the numbers

100%

Biobased material content of MOGU floor tiles

EUR 1,503,299

EU contribution for commercialization and scale-up

24 months

Workplan duration for certification, upscaling, and market entry

Doubling every 3 years

Green building market growth rate

SME partner (SQIM SRL, Italy) — sole developer and IP holder

The business problem

What needed solving

The construction industry faces mounting pressure to use sustainable materials, but most green alternatives sacrifice performance, aesthetics, or cost-competitiveness. Conventional resilient flooring relies on petroleum-based materials and generates non-recyclable waste at end of life. Builders and developers need a flooring product that checks the sustainability box while actually outperforming conventional options — not just matching them.

The solution

What was built

A 100% biobased resilient floor tile grown from agricultural and industrial residual biomass using mycelium (mushroom root) technology. The project delivered prototype samples produced in an upscaled manufacturing plant, along with a commercialization plan covering green certifications, IP protection, and B2B distribution channels.

Audience

Who needs this

Green building developers and contractors pursuing LEED/BREEAM certificationHotel chains and co-working operators investing in sustainable interiorsFlooring distributors looking for differentiated bio-based product linesArchitectural firms specifying sustainable materials for commercial projectsAgricultural cooperatives seeking profitable outlets for crop residues

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Commercial Real Estate & Green Building

mid-size

Target: Property developers and building contractors pursuing green certifications (LEED, BREEAM)

If you are a property developer struggling to meet green building certification requirements — this project developed a 100% biobased flooring tile made from agricultural residual biomass that outperforms conventional options in fire resistance, thermal insulation, and noise absorption. The product fits luxury environments at a price point typical of lower market segments, letting you hit sustainability targets without inflating budgets.

Hospitality & Interior Design

any

Target: Hotel chains, co-working spaces, and high-end interior design firms

If you are a hospitality or design firm looking for distinctive, sustainable materials that impress environmentally conscious clients — this project created a floor tile with a unique tactile feel and organic design aesthetic. It is positioned as a luxury product while priced competitively, giving you a design edge and a compelling sustainability story for your brand.

Agricultural Waste Valorization

SME

Target: Agricultural cooperatives and biomass processors looking for new revenue from crop residues

If you are an agricultural business sitting on mountains of crop residues with no profitable outlet — this project turns that waste into the raw material for premium flooring tiles. The entire production chain is designed as a circular value chain, meaning your waste becomes someone else's high-value building product, opening a new revenue stream from materials you currently pay to dispose of.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this flooring actually cost compared to conventional alternatives?

The project positions MOGU floor at a target price typical of inferior market segments while delivering luxury-grade performance. Exact per-square-meter pricing is not disclosed in the project data, but the strategy is clear: premium product at mid-range pricing to capture market share quickly.

Can this be produced at industrial scale?

Yes. The project specifically included upscaling production capacity as a key milestone, and a deliverable confirms prototype samples were produced in the upscaled plant. The 24-month workplan was designed to move from pilot production to commercial-scale manufacturing.

What about IP and licensing — can I use this technology?

The project explicitly included reinforcing IPR as part of its workplan. MOGU floor is developed by SQIM SRL in Italy, which holds the intellectual property. Any commercial use would require a licensing or distribution agreement directly with the company.

Does this flooring meet building safety regulations?

The objective states MOGU floor outperforms competing solutions in fire resistance, and the workplan included certifying the product with strategic green labels. Based on available project data, specific certifications pursued were part of the 24-month plan but individual certificate names are not listed.

How mature is this product — is it actually available?

This was an SME Instrument Phase 2 project (commercialization-focused) with EUR 1,503,299 in EU funding. The project closed in March 2021 with upscaled prototypes produced. The company maintains an active product website, suggesting continued commercialization post-project.

What performance advantages does it have over standard resilient flooring?

According to the project objective, MOGU floor outperforms competitors in safety, fire resistance, thermal insulation, shock absorption, and noise absorption — all while being 100% biobased. These are measurable technical properties that matter for building compliance and occupant comfort.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project: SQIM SRL, an Italian SME that is both the developer and future commercial operator of MOGU floor. With no university or research partners in the consortium, all EUR 1,503,299 in EU funding went directly toward product development, certification, and market preparation — not academic research. This structure is typical of SME Instrument Phase 2 projects and signals that the technology was already past the research stage when funded. For a potential business partner, this means you are dealing with one decision-maker who controls the product, the IP, and the go-to-market strategy.

SQIM SRLCoordinator · IT

How to reach the team

SQIM SRL is the sole partner and coordinator based in Italy. Contact can be established through their product website or via SciTransfer's matchmaking service.

Order a report on this consortium See SQIM SRL profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the MOGU floor team for distribution, licensing, or bulk supply? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting with the right person at SQIM SRL.

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