Issue 19/2016 - Mycelium biocomposites improve the environmental performance of packaging materials

Mycelium biocomposites improve the environmental performance
of packaging materials Because polystyrene materials are difficult to recycle and degrade, Swedish household goods giant IKEA announced this year that it will use mycelium environmentally friendly packaging materials made of mushrooms provided by American companies to replace the polystyrene packaging materials currently used, because mycelium materials can naturally degrade
within a few weeks.
Recently, the Department of Architecture at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada announced a new achievement: they have developed mycelium biocomposite environmentally friendly bricks, which can greatly expand the application field of
such materials.

The research team of the UBC Department of Architecture made mycelium biocomposites from two raw materials, oyster mushrooms and alder wood chips, which are commonly used locally, and used the hollow hexagonal structure of the honeycomb to make construction components to make it more space-adaptable
.
At present, the research team has created a set of benches from this material, which are placed on the UBC campus for teachers and
students.
The material has broader prospects
in replacing building insulation.
Commercial buildings in North America generally have a limited lifespan, and many are demolished before they break naturally
.
Taking into account its eco-friendly value, the prospects for the use of this material in the construction industry are very optimistic
.
In addition to construction, the research team also hopes to try in
the fields of lunch boxes and packaging materials.