MYCELIUM
Today only 2% of plastic packaging is recycled closed-loop according to Zero Waste Living Lab. Its production is predicted to quadruple by 2050 and will cause a devastating impact on the ocean's biodiversity. Recycling is an essential matter but will not be enough to end plastic pollution, meaning that new alternatives must be found. This project presents an innovative solution to counter plastic foam packaging with a 100% naturally sourced and biodegradable material : Mycelium. This theoretical project is made in collaboration with Le Labo du Blob ®, a French laboratory providing DIY kits to raise, take care and study your own blob.
PACKAGING APPLICATION
Le labo du Blob ® presents this kit providing all the tools needed to take care of a blob (a brainless, bright-yellow organism which hides in nature and can grow infinitely, move around, feed itself and which possesses smart abilities). The kit is using polyethylene foam to contain and hold the tools. Its founder, Mylène Durant, was looking for a more sustainable alternative, but also something that could help the blob's development : an edible packaging...
MAKING OF AN INNOVATIVE MATERIAL
Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus or fungus-like bacterial colony, consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. This material is mainly composed of natural polymers as chitin, cellulose, proteins, so it is a natural polymeric composite fibrous material. The quality of this new material demonstrates that it is possible to replace cellular plastics for product protection and insulation.
MAKING
This mix composed of natural fibres and flour was ordered to the company Growbio ® and had to be mixed to complete the material's creation.
After being mixed the material must be poured in moulds and left to dry, unexposed to direct sunlight, in a dry and clean room for 3-4 days.
RESULT :
A clean, light and condensed material with a soft touch.
PROPOSITION
More applications are being considerated : mixing the mycelium with an oat mixture in order to also be edible for the blob. Therefore, this packaging, rather than being only a sustainable and biodegradable material, could also serve to feed the blob.
Elsa Chaouloff _ November 2020 _ Mycelium Project (to be continued) _ Many Thanks to Le Labo du Blob and Mylène Durant.
