Mycomaterials and the future of fungi
Mycelium-based materials have a plethora of benefits from being low-cost, biodegradable, fire-resistant, thermal, and even acoustic insulators. This amazing biotechnology could take over our classic packaging, fashion materials, and single-use materials. Although there is a long way to go to integrate mycelium-based materials fully into society, we are already seeing many businesses moving forth in a sustainable direction.
New companies like Bolt Threads and Mycoworks are taking over the fashion industry. Stella McCartney, Lu Lu Lemon, Addidas, and more brands are all joining the mycomaterial club by launching their first biodegradable products made out of mycelium-based materials, Mylo and Reishi Leather.
This is just the beginning of a world that is more mycophilic and can thrive with biodegradable and sustainable products/materials. Making mycomaterials chic is exactly what is needed to continue forth on the mission to eliminate fast fashion and single-use items such as packaging.
Packaging is often single-use and gets tossed after it is no longer needed. Ecovative found a solution to this waste problem by developing packaging out of mycelium-based materials that are biodegradable and use minimal amounts of resources with no chemicals. After the packaging is used, you can crumble it up and put in in a garden or soil and it will naturally degrade.
Mycoworks is leading the fashion industry and just recently launched their full outfit using reishi leather, a big win for those following the biomaterials industry. Reishi leather imitates the texture of cowhide. This is a great example of how the fashion industry can perpetually switch the types of materials that are heavily used for clothing. The reality of cowhide leather is that it is just a by-product of the animal agriculture industry.
Mycelium based materials also offer insulation power which can be used in building structures like the one depicted above. HY-FI commissioned by the Museum of Modern Art is a structure made out of mycelium bricks that required no energy. The bricks are lightweight, low cost and sustainable showing the potential of these materials for building structures.
Mycelium-based materials also offer thermal and acoustic insulation. Rachel Rosenkrantz is the designer behind the Mycocaster, which was a guitar designed out of mycelium. There are so many ways mycomaterials can be used, seeing items like this coming out is extremely promising for the future of fungi-based materials.
Overall, mycelium-based materials are an outstanding material but scaling this technology is not necessarily effortless. The growth of these materials involves the propagation of hyphae, growth chambers that require energy to maintain the necessary conditions, sterilization of equipment, and industrial ovens to dry the material. More research and focus in this area of biomaterials is needed to produce efficiency in this industry. According to the Future Market Insights by 2032, the market value of mushroom materials is expected to reach US$8,015.2 Million. This is estimated to be larger than predicted as more competitors continue joining the market. Celebrities are also joining the movement such as Natalie Portman and John Legend investing millions in MycoWorks. If society becomes more aware of these materials and begins to utilize them in everyday products, it can eliminate the huge waste problem humans have developed with the current materials that are heavily used.
If you are interested in learning how to make your own or start producing your own mycelium-based materials, consider taking a workshop or buying a kit online .
Cover Photo Carlina Teteris, collaborative research between Singapore-ETH Centre and KIT,