Extraordinary Mushrooms - Mushrooms may become our future homes.
"In his book 'Interwoven Life: How Fungi Shape Our World and Influence Our Future,' biologist and fungi expert Merlin Sheldrake (37) explains that fungi form their own kingdom of living creatures, as expansive as the 'animal' or 'plant' kingdoms," writes Sheldrake.
These fascinating organisms are crucial for all forms of life and can be found in diverse environments such as the deep-sea sediments, deserts, and Antarctic valleys. In addition, they reside in our digestive systems and orifices.
Mushroom Pickers are Missing Out on a Hidden Treasure Below the Surface
People who enjoy picking mushrooms are excited about what grows above ground. However, the real treasure lies underground: the mycelium - a network of thread-like fungal cells.
Is Mushroom Housing our Future?
Germany's government acknowledges the potential of mycelium in the construction industry for achieving energy and climate goals. This fungal material has fascinating properties and could be used to produce sustainable, energy-neutral building materials.
Although still in its infancy, this area of research is growing. In the future, mycelium could be used for insulation or as a replacement for traditional non-load-bearing masonry, as stated by Germany's Federal Ministry of Economics in the "Building Forum Climate Neutral".
Moreover, scientists are looking into using mycelium to create load-bearing elements, structural components, and connecting pieces. Consequently, mushrooms could play a fundamental role in shaping the future of house construction.
In 2013, the US company Ecovative from New York pioneered this field by building a small house with walls made of mushroom foam, costing around €6500. The mushroom insulation grew into wooden molds within a few days, sealing the walls airtight and forming a strong structure similar to concrete.
Fungi: A True Bank for Climate Protection
The Penicillium chrysogenum mold, famous for producing penicillin antibiotics, is also a climate hero. Mycorrhizal fungi store an impressive 13.12 gigatons of carbon each year - that's more than a third (36%) of annual emissions!
Furthermore, a global team of researchers determined that the economic impact of all fungi totals around €52 trillion. This represents half of the world's annual gross national product, which is the value of all goods and services produced globally.
The authors of a study published in "Fungal Diversity" note that because fungi are involved in numerous essential processes, they should be considered a significant contribution to the global economy.
Sustainable Packaging made from Mushrooms
The company Grown Bio creates eco-friendly packaging using mushrooms. Their process only requires two ingredients: mycelium (the root structure of mushrooms) and agricultural waste. Since fungi don't photosynthesize, they depend on organic substances as sustenance.
For example, hemp or wine waste (grapevines), tulip wood, sawdust, and coffee can be used as food sources for the mushrooms.
The mushroom-based packaging comes in various shapes and sizes. To create the packaging, you'll need a mold, fill it with the substrate, and let it grow for about five days. Finally, the products are placed in large ovens to kill the mycelium and prevent it from growing further. The resulting material is sturdy and sustainable.
Fashion Forward Fungi
Designer Stella McCartney embraced Mylo, a leather substitute made from mushrooms, in 2018, using it to create her iconic "Falabella" bag. "This is the future of fashion," says McCartney.
In 2021, the fashion house Hermès introduced the "Victoria" bag manufactured from mushroom leather in collaboration with MycoWorks.
In January of this year, furniture manufacturer Ligne Roset announced a partnership with MycoWorks. "Our collaboration with MycoWorks reinforces our commitment to ethical and sustainable development while maintaining our renowned quality," states CEO Antoine Roset.
The importance of mushrooms and the bioeconomy for the future is evident in that the US, alongside Canada, Finland, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, launched an international competition to establish research centers for the bioeconomy in April.
The future is mushrooms!
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Source: symclub.org
