What has been dubbed mushroom packaging has been on the rise in recent years as a replacement for Styrofoam, a petroleum-based product that is not recyclable in most local programs, for shipping purposes. Mushroom packaging has been on the rise and is essentially a 180-degree turn on rising issues with solid waste from plastic-based products.
Mushroom packaging is compostable and biodegradable. It also significantly reduces the energy used to produce the shipping packaging over its Styrofoam counterpart.
What are the benefits of mushroom packaging?
- Compostable (safely throw in a home or office garden) and biodegradable
- The packaging is made from agricultural waste, so it promotes circularity
- Low energy consumption
- Low carbon emissions, which can help with climate change mitigation
- Reduces use of non-renewable raw materials
How is mushroom packaging made?
The process essentially uses what’s known as mycelium (the roots of a mushroom) and hemp hurd, an ag waste product. A company known as Ecovative is leading the charge on the innovation.