Researchers have harnessed the power of the humble mushroom to convert food waste into sustainable faux leather, paper and cotton substitutes. The researchers say that this fungal leather takes less time to produce than existing substitutes already on the market and, unlike some, is 100% bio-based.
Lead investigator Dr Akram Zamani and her team in Sweden have developed a range of sustainable materials derived from fungi. “We hope they can replace cotton or synthetic fibres and animal leather, which can have negative environmental and ethical aspects,” says Zamani.
Fungal fibers can be turned into yarn (left) or a leather substitute (right). Image: Akram Zamani
They’re not the first to have produced a fungal leather, but according to Zamani, they are the first to have made a product with properties that can match real leather, and at a production rate that could realistically match market demands.
Source: cosmosmagazine.com
