Where most see construction waste, Joanne Rodriguez sees opportunity. Her vision has earned Mycocycle a coveted spot in Bloomberg's acclaimed environmental series "An Optimist's Guide to the Planet"—the only North American company selected for the second season. This recognition validates a groundbreaking approach that transforms industry waste into reusable materials, positioning the Illinois-based biotech firm to showcase its innovative solution on a global stage.

Hosted by actor and climate advocate Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, best known for his role as Jaime Lannister in HBO's "Game of Thrones," the series spotlights individuals and communities driving humanity toward a more sustainable future. Mycocycle's fungi-based process captured producers' attention for its potential to dramatically reduce the construction industry's environmental impact.

Addressing a Critical Industry Challenge

The construction sector generates a staggering amount of waste, with roughly 145 million tons of debris sent to landfills annually. The roofing industry represents a significant portion of this challenge, as traditional disposal methods for asphalt shingles and other materials contribute to mounting environmental concerns.

Mycocycle's mycoremediation process offers a revolutionary alternative. By using fungi to break down and detoxify materials like asphalt shingles at construction and demolition sites, the company transforms waste into valuable biomaterials. These recycled materials possess properties particularly suited for construction applications—they're lightweight, thermally insulating, fire-retardant, and water-repellent.

"Of all the materials that we produce in the world, 90 percent of it ends up in some form of waste stream," Rodriguez explained to Coster-Waldau in the season trailer. The resulting biomaterials can be manufactured into new building products, creating what she calls "a true closed-loop ecosystem."

Celebrating the Achievement

To commemorate Mycocycle's television debut, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago will host a private watch party on October 29, 2025. Rodriguez serves as a trustee of the organization.

The six-part season airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bloomberg Originals, available on major streaming platforms including Samsung TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and LG channels. Episodes also air at 10 p.m. ET on Bloomberg TV and are available on demand via Bloomberg.com and YouTube.

Watch the season trailer here.