MYCOSITE-MYCelium based compOSITE, towards a truly sustainable biomaterial 

Mycelium-based biocomposites are an emerging category of materials exploiting the abundance of lignocellulosic waste generated yearly, such as wood by-products, waste fibers or residual stems/husks, and the natural growth of a living fungal organism. Fungi bring strength and cohesion to amorphous materials by producing microscopic filaments (called hyphae) that form the mycelium and lignocellulosic biomass will work as natural fibers reinforcing the material. Mycelium-based composite production requires low energy consumption being a promising candidate for replacing petroleum-derived products because its renewable and natural origin. The resulting materials are fully biodegradable and compostable, supporting the transition toward a circular economy, where the value of materials and resources is maintained in the economy for as long as possible and the generation of waste is minimized.