In a pan or as a new pair of shoes: mushrooms are simply fantastic
Mushrooms: some people can’t stand them, while others eagerly toss them into a sizzling-hot frying pan to make a delicious pasta dish or stew, or serve them straight from the pan with herbs on toast. But the fungi that eventually become mushrooms can be used in many more ways.
And that’s good news, because it could mean that in the future we’ll need to use less plastic, or other materials that research has shown can release particles that end up in the human body. Mycelium, the network of fungal threads from which mushrooms also grow, can be used very effectively as a substitute for materials such as leather or plastic, because with the right techniques it can be made incredibly strong. So cool!
Leather-like material
‘Leather’ is already being made from mycelium, and fashion designers use it for things like shoes, belts, and bags. Remember the Adidas mushroom sneakers? After processing, it can also be used in construction, for example as insulation material. And if the fast-food industry gets behind it, polystyrene packaging (such as the ‘Styrofoam’ in which hamburgers are sold) could eventually also be replaced by this natural material.
Wonderful world
Interested in learning more about the background and possibilities of ‘leather’ or other materials that can be imitated by growing and processing fungi? Then read this detailed and clear article about the benefits and uses of mushroom leather. And if you want to be completely blown away by the wonderful and dazzling world of fungi, watch the documentary Fantastic Fungi on Netflix. Highly recommended!
Also read:
- Shocking: microplastics found in human blood for the first time
- 10 mushrooms to go wild for
- According to this chef, we’re cooking mushrooms completely wrong – and he shows us how to do it right
