We have a plastic problem and mycelium might be a way to solve it. 

Each year, we generate over 240 million tons of plastic with polystyrene packaging— styrofoam and rigid plastics manufactured from crude oil byproducts— making up 40% of total plastic production. Even before the final product reaches the shelf, the plastic production cycle uses natural gas to generate electricity for molding equipment and machines, which exacerbates climate change. After use, an overwhelming majority– 91% of plastic– goes unrecycled, and, upon entering the environment, these products break down into harmful microbeads that can linger in soil and water for hundreds of years. Not only do we need a fully biodegradable, recyclable alternative to single-use plastics, but we need one that is suitably cost-competitive and technologically advanced. This is where mycelium comes in.

Mycelium converts small food molecules into digestible parts by excreting enzymes, and it is often recognized by its macro-size fruiting body: the mushroom. Typically, during its early stages of nutrient exchange, mycelium expands to form dense networks of long fibers as it grows, which precede its characteristic mushroom growth. But by manipulating temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide, scientists can control the shape and growth of mycelium tissue in a process that consumes only 12% of the energy needed in plastic production while producing 90% less in carbon dioxide equivalents. The manufacturing process begins with chopping up and pasteurizing wood chips, rice husks, and corn stalks, among other agricultural waste products that are often locally sourced with low transport costs. Once nutrients, water, and mycelium pellets are added, this mixture is then packed into molds, sealed, and stored for up to a week, during which the mycelium proliferates. Differing mold sizes and mushroom species affect the exact length of time needed prior to extraction, but mycelium growth generally requires three to five days to expand from a few microscopic fibers to an 18-by-12 inch sheet weighing several pounds. All products, once removed from their mold, are treated with heat to prevent future growth of the mycelium. The final products are safe, resilient, and capable of decomposing after their intended use, returning their nutrients to the soil within 45 days and enhancing plant growth.

Mycelium’s malleable nature, combined with its durability, moisture resistance, and relatively inexpensive costs of production, has captured the interest of numerous scientists and researchers and enables a wide range of uses for mycelium, from packaging to clothing, food, and construction materials. The first breakthroughs in mycelium materials date back to 2006 when the company Evocative began experimenting with biofabrication, eventually amassing over 40 patents across 31 countries and helping set the stage for other companies licensing mycelium technology, such as the UK’s Magical Mushroom Company, the Netherlands’ Grown.bio, and New Zealand’s BioFab. Evocative currently produces custom-designed Mushroom Packaging as an alternative to styrofoam while aiming to diversify mycelium uses even further, such as with their Forager Hides, a leather substitute, and Mycoboard, a cardboard replacement. Circulating more of these products in the economy helps reduce waste and could transform how we produce and use goods, offering up to $4.5 trillion in global economic benefits by 2030, as well as environmental benefits including lower GHG emissions and improved land use. 

As research in mycelium technology continues to advance, there still exist several challenges preventing mycelium from truly replacing plastics. For one, mycelium is naturally hydrophobic but not waterproof, and immersing products in water would severely compromise structural integrity, leaving materials subject to disintegration. This has heavy implications for mycelium construction materials, which outperform petrochemical/plastic-based construction materials in thermal and acoustic insulation, but currently are weaker and have a shorter life cycle next to most other building materials. Another is the limited variability of available mycelium products on the market, especially when faced with our society’s deeply embedded dependence on plastic and the sheer number of current plastic suppliers, distributors, and buyers. With further study and experimentation, however, mycelium can replace plastic as an environmentally-safe alternative in increasing capacity.