Fungi have more to offer than meets the eye. Their thread-like cells, which grow extensively and out of sight underground like a network of roots, offer huge potential for producing sustainable, biodegradable materials. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam Science Park are using this mycelium to develop a wide range of recyclable products, from wallets and insulation to packaging.
I hope the vegan leather use gets some traction. It word be nice to have alternatives that weren’t just plastic. The other kinds I’ve had experience with like the pineapple stuff are still not quite there.
Packaging is also exciting. A lot of it has changed from styrofoam to shaped cardboard but it sounds like this would let packing materials be a little more spongey and protective.