Out with plastic and Styrofoam, in with myco-materials
The transition won't happen overnight, but the course is set. PermaFungi, a Brussels-based company, produces myco-materials using fungal threads and the organic waste from oyster mushroom cultivation. These materials offer an ultra-light, 100% biodegradable, and circular alternative to plastic and Styrofoam.
PermaFungi's name is a nod to its original focus: the cultivation of oyster mushrooms. They are grown on coffee grounds, which are inoculated with mushroom seeds (mycelium). Each batch of mycelium yields about three harvests. The natural fertiliser produced is nutrient-rich and fully certified for organic farming. This brings the mushroom's life cycle full circle: from the ground and back into it.
The real future of PermaFungi is rooted in its third pillar: myco-materials. These are obtained by incorporating mycelium into champost, the organic byproduct of oyster mushroom cultivation. Myco-material has a number of positive qualities. It is all-natural, hand-crafted, sturdy, waterproof, fireproof, ultra-light, and completely compostable and biodegradable. This material is ideal for packaging and insulation, as well as for crafting high-quality items like light fittings and other design products.
New investments will significantly boost the production, product development, and workforce of the Brussels-based mushroom grower. To the benefit of the producer, the consumer, and the environment.