GOB

About GOB

GOB Earth Inc. is a sustainable wellness company that has developed the market's first plastic-free, compostable earplugs. Founded in 2023 by Lauryn Menard, a biomaterial professor and industrial designer, the company aims to address the environmental impact of the 40 billion petroleum-based earplugs produced annually. The idea for the company originated when Menard, then working at her sustainable design agency Prowl, experienced overly loud music in a spin class and realized a compostable alternative to traditional earplugs did not exist. This led her to go all-in on GOB, building a team to create regenerative wellness products.

The company's flagship product is a single-use earplug made entirely from mycelium, the root-like structure of mushrooms. Developed in partnership with mycelium technology lab Ecovative, the earplugs are created from agricultural byproducts using a custom robotic system. These USDA Certified 100% bio-based earplugs are designed to be hypoallergenic and mold to the user's ear like memory foam, providing a secure and comfortable fit. They offer a balanced acoustic experience by naturally dampening all sound frequencies evenly, unlike traditional foam earplugs that can muffle and distort sound. After use, the earplugs are fully home-compostable, breaking down in about 45 days and returning nutrients to the soil without leaving behind microplastics or harmful residues.

GOB operates on a direct-to-consumer model through its e-commerce website, hosted by Shopify. It also pursues co-branding and partnership opportunities with brands in sectors like wellness, music, live events, and motorsports. The company targets a wide range of users, from those seeking better sleep to attendees of concerts, festivals, and motorsport races. In October 2024, GOB raised $1.2 million in a seed funding round from investors including Baukunst, Selected Works, and Cool Climate Collective.