Mushroom Material : Packaging Solutions Grown from Mycelium

The US produces over 80 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste annually, most of which is used once and sent to landfill. Recycling facilities are overwhelmed with non-biodegradable products like Styrofoam which are so durable they may last in our environment forever.    

One New York company is working to turn the tide on plastic waste polluting land and seas. Ecovative’s innovative packaging solution is made from agricultural by-products mixed with mycelium, part of the mushroom. It recycles regular waste from agribusiness to grow new materials.

Using cutting-edge biotechnology, Ecovative grows ‘Myco-composite’: packaging alternatives and eco-friendly building supplies which are versatile, durable, 100% plastic free, and even home biodegradable and compostable after use.

Myco-foam is grown from organic matter such as corn husks mixed with the vegetative part of the mushroom known for its network of fine, branching filaments. Mycelium digests the husks and grows to fill the mold, then dried to prevent further growth or sporing.       

Ecovative is interested in more than just growing packaging alternatives. One invention in development, mResin or ‘natures glue’, replaces harmful adhesives, sealants and glues used in particle boards, paneling, insulation, and elsewhere in the building trade. 

Bio-fabricating furniture using Mushroom Materials means no added toxins in production and eliminating harmful formaldehyde emissions. Myco-board has fire-resistant, moisture-repellent, and soundproof qualities and is as shock-absorbing as plastic, perfect for shipping.  

Interested in learning exactly how Mushroom Materials work? Ecovative even retail a Grow It Yourself kit. Designed to spread awareness of this incredible new material, the kit contains a dried mycelium mixture and a mold. Just add water and watch your myco creation grow!  

Mushroom Materials could revolutionize how we manufacture packaging and help reduce the unsustainable levels of plastic pollution. Minimizing harmful emissions while eliminating toxins, glues, and adhesives can help manufacturing companies reach strict carbon emissions targets.

Next time you sift through unrecyclable Styrofoam pellets or synthetic pockets full of air just to get to your order, ask yourself this: if plastic can outlast us all, isn’t it time environmental laws were enacted to prevent the mass production of nonbiodegradable packaging?

Mushroom Materials are just one solution to the plastic pollution problem, and pioneering biotechnology firm Ecovative is leading the charge with innovative ideas, novel formulations and scalable design.

Mushrooms are indeed magic. The future of packaging is fungi!