The use of fungal mycelium for the production of bio-based materials

Abstract

Resource management in current socio-economic systems is often based on a “take-produce-consume-discard” model. This model assumes unlimited abundance of resources and unlimited waste disposal with no negative side effects. Environmental consequences of resource depletion and waste accumulation in the biosphere are environmental problems such as climate change. Due to the intrinsic unsustainability of linear industrial processes, it is necessary to look for alternatives. Two important factors in circular production of materials are renewable feedstocks and biodegradability. Renewable feedstocks refer to raw materials that are being extracted from nature and are replenishable, such as biomass used for producing biofuels. Biodegradability refers to the capability of being degraded by biological activity. We have studied the use of fungi to produce such bio-based materials. Growing on agricultural waste streams, fungi can form a threadlike network that is called mycelium. Mycelium-based materials can be made of pure mycelium or a combination of mycelium the substrate on which it grows. We used different fungal species, growth techniques and post-processing and subjected these materials to mechanical tests. By doing so, we have obtained materials showing a broad range of mechanical properties. Materials produced from pure mycelium have shown potential to replace leather or textiles, while composite materials have been developed that can be used as packaging, insulation and construction materials. Growing biodegradable materials from renewable waste streams contributes greatly in transition from a linear to a circular, sustainable economy.