Growing Materials From Mycelium

"The aim is to create a future where there's no waste."

What if the materials that made up our everyday lives had a life of their own?

Mycelium is the root network of fungus. It could also provide the building blocks for much of the modern world, from the clothes we wear to the structures we inhabit.

As Dr. Jane Scott explains, this natural wonder is opening up new possibilities for sustainable manufacturing – and could even help us construct a waste-free future.

Dr. Scott is a researcher at Newcastle University. Leading an interdisciplinary team at the Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, she examines the potential of designing with biology using textile fabrication processes.

Mycelium is already transforming the field of biomaterials. It can be grown for bespoke purposes and manufactured without extreme heat or energy. It's biodegradable, non-toxic, and has fantastic insulation properties.

Because it's so adaptable, mycelium is ideal for applications in the built environment and beyond. It offers robust alternatives to everything from plastic packaging to leather. It can also be used to clean up waste and chemicals after an oil spill.

Why are the properties of mycelium so exciting? The answer is greater than the novelty of considering products fashioned from fungus. At scale, biomaterials can accelerate our transition to a circular economy across industries and supply chains.

Inspired by this vision, Dr. Scott is working to unearth mycelium’s full potential.

"It really excites me to think that we could move towards a future where all the components of a building could be grown."

To learn more about the Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, visit their website.