The End of Plastic?

Plastics have become some of the most harmful substances on the planet. The promise of recyclability has turned out to be nothing more than a pipe dream, leading not only to litter in our streets and oceans but also the presence of microplastics in our food and water that increase inflammation, neurotoxicity and even the risk of cancer. But new biodegradable materials made from the root structures of mushroom (mycelium) have the potential to replace petroleum-based plastics in packaging, building materials, textiles and more.

Mycelium grows by breaking down waste plant material to create a web of threadlike filaments that can be grown into a wide range of shapes. By controlling temperature, humidity, airflow and carbon dioxide exposure, its properties can be manipulated to create a variety of products, including shipping foam, artificial leather, insulation, edible meatlike products and even transparent sheets that are 10 times stronger than paper. Researchers are also looking at producing mycelium materials that are flame-resistant and waterproof.

The manufacturing process uses 90 percent less energy and produces 90 percent less carbon dioxide than that used to produce plastics. The fungi actually work to capture carbon in the environment. A finished product can be produced in as little as a week, and the material biodegrades in soil in about 45 days. As stricter laws continue to be introduced that prohibit single-use plastics, alternatives such as this will likely experience a huge growth in demand globally.