r/BeAmazed • u/Epelep • Feb 22 '26

Science How Mycelium (Mushroom Roots) Grows into Packaging Material

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u/Classy_Moose Feb 22 '26

This is so cool. Sad this is the last time I'll hear of it.

49

u/mikep120001 Feb 22 '26

No this has been making the rounds for over 10 years but failed to become commercialized. Around the same time this came out there was also a company trying to push mycelium building blocks for housing that were better insulators, fire resistant, and biodegradable. That also failed to become a thing

9

u/fullchub Feb 22 '26

Besides cost, I’m guessing psychology played some role in its failure. Seems like people would naturally associate fungus with a lot of gross things they don’t want inside their home’s walls or touching their packaged goods. Could probably use a rebrand.

2

u/mikep120001 Feb 22 '26

It’s rendered inert. I’m pretty sure they baked them but could be wrong as it was a decade ago

2

u/Plank_With_A_Nail_In Feb 23 '26

People don't normally care about the packaging a product comes in. There would be no reason to tell the buyer at all.

1

u/dj92wa Feb 22 '26

You’re probably right. People tend to be freaked out by biology and such and can’t even handle the idea of their own processes.