Ask anyone and they will tell you how much a nuisance plastic has become in the home, the environment, and everywhere you look. It was created in 1907 by chemist Leo Baekeland for convenience and to be used as a cheaper alternative. It became a success and was quickly incorporated into everything, kitchenware, storage, and so much more. In 1907, Leo could have never predicted that his creation could have such a nightmarish effect on our world. In the world, we are looking at 350 million tons of plastic waste every year. No one one-hundred years ago could have seen this coming. This is a very serious problem, we are now seeing microplastics in everything from our food, our clean water, even to the stomachs of animals in the ocean and on land. It has become a huge problem that requires a huge solution. Some people have come up with some ideas, they may be a little out there but it is worth a shot!
F. fomentarius has three layers which makes it a great candidate for an alternative to plastic. The outside layers are tough and hardened, which would be well suited for packaging and storage. The inner layer has a softer feel which could be used in place of leather. And the innermost layer has a texture that feels similar to wood. A team has already begun the process of testing this fungus to see what the best next steps of action are. I think it is so important for people to have ideas that may be out there and not inside the box. We are headed into a period of time where what we have done in the past is no longer an option. We need new and creative ideas to make this environment healthier.
Another team proposes that fungi can be grown to make differentshapes using a mold. If
you have ever got something that came with a ton of foam you know that that
stuff is getting thrown away and not recycled. But if your package or toy came
inside a fungi-shaped mold that protected your item you could throw that out
into the yard and it would decompose completely. Humans love convenience and
the less recycling required the better. A company in New York, Evocative, is
already replacing their packaging materials with fungal mycelia. It is even
proposed that someday we will have less e-waste due to it being replaced by
fungal material. This is still in its first phase but it is slowly gaining
traction and I am hoping that in five to ten years we may even see large
companies adapting this process in order to better fight plastic pollution.
In the video below, (optional
watch but fascinating) they are 3D printing fungi in certain molds to create
furniture and more. It creates a cork-like material, sturdy and practical.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnMXH5TqqG8&t=27s
I think with so much going wrong we must find some hope in different ways otherwise we will be too exhausted to lift our head. Look for the good, there is some out there and there are still some people working fervently to create a better world.
Wow, of all the plastic alternatives I have heard of before I have never seen fungi proposed before until reading this blog post. To think that we create hundreds of tons of waste a year in plastic alone is insane. I am hopeful to see companies adopt fungi fibres as a method of packing material over plastic products. Additionally, just a fact I wanted to include - paper can also be made from fungi, and perhaps could be a method of reducing the amount of trees cut down each year for paper production.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, it is a creative alternative. It makes me think of how people reacted when paper straws spread as a plastic straw alternative. Many people complain and say that it gets soggy. I wonder if people will have similar complaints about a fungi based product.
DeleteThis would be so cool if it is successful in its early stages. I love the part when you said you could just throw it out in the yard and it would decompose, so simple and less waste. I wonder if the way the packages would have to be labeled/dated would change.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing blog post, I really find this topic interesting and hope to learn more about it. The fact that plastic waste is an insane issue, I think it is even more insane that we produce 350 MILLION tons of plastic a year. Hope to see more about fungi and different alternatives for plastic.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stating with the original creator of plastic. It is so common in life that I never thought of the fact that it had one creator and that the intentions for the purpose of plastic could be altered. Plastic from mushrooms is such a new idea to me, I don’t know where to begin! But I love that old plastic products can naturally decompose. That would definitely make recycling more convenient and more fun.
ReplyDeleteThis a great idea for package and reducing the amount of plastic in the world. How a solution that is biodegradable and more eco-friendly is great to help combat climate change.
ReplyDeleteThis is really intresting, that we can have our own natural grown foam and I know a lot of people won't recycle if they don't have to, I'm glad people are finally finding something that even the "lazy" Americans can get behind.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of using fungi as a plastic alternative is both promising and innovative, especially considering how urgent the plastic pollution crisis has become. This could be a game changer for reducing waste!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is amazing! I had no idea F. fomentarius could replace plastic in so many ways! Are big brands using fungi-based materials yet, and how durable is it? Also, 3D-printed fungi furniture—mind-blowing! Thanks for sharing, Abby!
ReplyDeleteThis was so interesting! I had no idea that fungus could be used in this way. I thought that you made a great point about how people look for convenience and if it meant that people wouldn't have to go through leaps and bounds to recycle, more people may be willing to make this switch. It does sound crazy but the way you described the benefits and possible outcomes; you quickly changed my mind. I really look forward to hopefully seeing this in the future.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea, I am always shocked by the innovation of scientists. I am fascinated by the part of the fungi that might be able to mimic wood. Deforestation is a major instigator of advancing climate change and removing carbon sinks, it would be wonderful to see this terrible industry slow down and innovation take over.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, but I actually remember hearing about this idea in the Scholastic magazine! Perhaps I am dating myself with that, but it is incredibly encouraging seeing this technology grow. When I first heard of it, it was nothing more than an abstract idea, but now we are actively using and growing this technology!
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting topic! I never would have considered replacing plastic with something like fungi, but I love the creativity and the idea of compostable/decomposable packaging. I would worry about the longevity of it, but I can definitely see it working!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cool take on renewable alternatives to plastic! I remember in a previous class learning about mycelium which is a similar fungus that I've heard is even durable enough to use in place of bricks for construction. I love this concept and I hope with further innovation more of these sustainable alternatives can be implemented to reduce plastic waste and possibly the use of plastic overall.
ReplyDeleteI agree with so many other comments that the idea of replacing plastics with mushroom is amazing and exciting. Not only are plastics terrible for the environment, but their production is also a major source of greenhouse gases - a direct climate impact.
ReplyDeleteFungi are so so weird and this adds yet another reason I love them. I wouldn't have thought they'd make for good material in use of consumables production, given how I think of most mushrooms and springy and soft. Using biology to resolve unnatural problems will always be awesome.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of a way I heard we could deal with the plastic pollution, too. There's a certain type of bacteria(?) that I heard could be used to break down plastics in the environment. Not sure what it's called but it could do so some heavy lifting!
Knowing how plastic has been used and the results of plastic not being used properly or disposed of properly, as well as wildlife being effected in horrible ways I am willing to try anything new to reverse the bad effects we humans have caused
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