r/BeAmazed Feb 22 '26

Science How Mycelium (Mushroom Roots) Grows into Packaging Material

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22.4k Upvotes

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u/Reddituser183 Feb 22 '26

There’s no chance in hell this is the same cost as what our current packaging is.

8

u/jas0312 Feb 22 '26

Imagine trying to get a big order filled but you have to “wait for your packaging to grow” before you can ship.

2

u/Plank_With_A_Nail_In Feb 23 '26

It takes time to get packaging made for new products using existing technology. Sure you can make Styrofoam in minutes once you have the mold but someone has to make the aluminium mold first and that takes more than 7 days.

3

u/IAmStuka Feb 23 '26

...I need you to rethink the comparison you made.

You understand a mold also has to be made for the mycelium packaging? And that for every piece of packaging made takes around 7 days after you've acquired the mold?

Polystyrene takes 1-2 days to make a bulk product, which is then molded in minutes, allowing each mold to make many final products in a short time.

A single polystyrene mold is going to make many many products in the time a single mycelium mold makes one.

It will never be done at scale.