How can mushrooms become an ally in creating biodegradable alternatives to polystyrene?

Styrofoam has served the world dutifully since its invention in the 1940s, making countless advancements by providing everything from package cushioning to flotation devices that help save lives. As a material, it is incredible. But its environmental impact is worrying: finished materials may take thousands of years or even longer to biodegrade.

There is a growing demand for viable and cost-effective alternatives that do not have all the problematic environmental problems-mycelium can provide a solution.

Mycelium is a root-like structure that extends from the fungus and lies below the outer layer of the cap. However, the product called mycelium is a bio-engineered form of hyphae, made by mixing agricultural waste with these root-like structures as a binder.

In practice, mycelium can be used to make everything from organic plastics to stents that can be used to grow organs-although its most common and useful commercial application is in the form of packaging.

Mycelial foam can be used in the same way as polystyrene foam. The mycelium forms a foam-like material, and the insulation is quite good. Greensulate derived from fungus will scorch, but will not melt and ignite like polystyrene insulation. It is light in weight, easy to shape and easy to produce-all of these are beneficial properties for packaging materials. It is these characteristics that make mycelium cost-competitive with polystyrene foam, which has long been a cheap and reliable material for all aspects of throughput material delivery.

Mycelium is a mixture of agricultural wastes combined with the structure of mycelium. Several types of waste can be used in this process, from hemp to wood chips to psyllium husk. These materials will grow into the ideal shape together in a short period of time (sometimes only a week).

The fast-growing fibers of mycelium produce materials for packaging, clothing, food, and construction—from leather to vegetable steaks to scaffolds for growing organs.

This is the basic material of most mycelium products, called foam. Mycelial foam can be used in a wide range of applications, such as textiles and cosmetics, or to maintain its more basic and common packaging state.

Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus or fungus-like colony, which is composed of a large number of branched linear hyphae. In terms of technology, making foam starts by mixing agricultural waste with mycelium. This mixture is placed in a mold of any desired capacity and placed in the dark, where it is grown for about a week. The fungus is left to feed on agricultural waste.

As it moves in the mixture, it forms a network of fine white fibers across the entire substrate. This will eventually fill up all available space and form a strong structure: mycelial foam. The foam is then removed from the mold and dried to prevent the growth of mycelium and the production of mushrooms or spores. From here, the foam can be used as a packaging material or further processed to make everything from handbags to faux leather jackets.

The mycelial foam is biodegradable, easy to shape, lightweight and strong. Its service life is different from polystyrene foam, which is good for the environment, but not necessarily good if you are looking for something that will last for decades.

For its most common uses, biodegradability is a key feature. Lightweight and strength are also very desirable characteristics, whether for one-time use or long-term use.

Compared with polystyrene foam or polyurethane products, mycelium is actually stronger, although it may be considered a biological material. It is also hydrophobic and flame retardant, which is beneficial for applications such as packaging and clothing.

Packaging is the main application, but as mentioned above, mycelium has many more uses, from organ scaffolds to furniture. However, replacing polystyrene foam can be said to be its best use, because disposable fillers are better for the environment if they are biodegradable.

It is also the simplest form of production: mycelial foam is the basic material of all mycelial products and can be used as packaging without any changes.

For similar reasons, organic plastics are another application. Manufacturing plastic-like materials requires more production because it requires additional processing after the base foam is manufactured, similar to textiles or shoes.

Nevertheless, its benefits and practical applications are worthwhile. It can be as convenient and useful as petroleum-based plastic, with similar flexibility and short-term durability, but it will decompose naturally. A recent study published in Science Advances found that to date, humans have produced 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic, which is 25,000 times the weight of the Empire State Building — and all plastics will not biodegrade into the global ecosystem.

Although it also has a series of product applications, the main purpose of mycelium is to provide a sustainable alternative to non-biodegradable disposable packaging.

*Jordan Flagal is an environmental scientist and policy analyst who writes for the materials search engine Matmatch.

Top image source: ©stock.adobe.com/au/mathisprod

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