Fungus: The Plastic of the Future

Fungus, easy to mold.

Whenever I read about this new fungal manufacturing technology, I can help but feel a wonderful sense of hope growing in my chest. This is a revolutionary new technology, without a doubt. It could easily replace a lot of materials we currently use. This is utterly incredible! This is already getting used to create packaging and simple furniture, but I can easily see it being used for minor construction material since it's fire and water resistant, so it can easily be used as a replacement for drywall and plywood. It can replace the plastic and polymer materials in some vehicles if given a very thin reinforcing coating. Like the researchers said, the possibilities are absolutely endless! We would be doing a disservice to the next generation if this wasn't invested, researched, and mass produced. Get the botanists, get the chemists, get the engineers; they've got a new field to study and play with!

It’s 2021, almost 5 years since this and I’m still waiting for the mushroom plastic

Anybody else just want a 20 minute video of that guy talking about his fungus packaging?

As a mycophile and packaging enthusiast I found this video to be really exciting, however I wish they had shown more strength tests

I really hope this picks up momentum.

We talk to the scientists and designers hoping to create a viable, sustainable alternative to plastic from and unlikely source: fungus.

In the near future we will be travelling in solar powered fungus aircraft

the music at the end is great

My best friend is made of that stuff. He's a real fungi.

Maybe this goddamned world might turn out okay in 100 years after all

"I collect spores, molds and fungus." - Egon Spengler, Ph.D.

The kingdom of the fungi is incredible.They are amazing chemists for one thing; capable of producing extremely complicated molecules. They will share their secrets with us, little by little, over time.

So many people complaining about costs... But in the end it depends on with what costs you`re calculate... The micro plastic clouds in our seas and the levels of plastic products inside the feeding chain of the oceans animals will have a cost, ultimativly. In theory economics is about all "costs". If interested I recommend starting with the topic of "the tragic of the commons" which is at the core of the problem and one of the more accepted theory in economics ;) Plus, remember, without oil we might finally get rid of the Saudis and the middle east! Without oil money they will disappear back into obscurity. So a great plus there.

Wow so many ideas come to mind in various uses...home insulation, or building blocks, or in building a whole home! Homeless shelters, having lived in the desert in Cali I can see how making structures for shade, gardening, and small shelters for animals and people that this could be quite a problem solver! ahh wish my words could convey all my thoughts, I am just a ideas person, Oh great lol now my mind will be working on these ideas on night and then some! Thanks for sharing!

There's lots of biodegradable plastics like hemp plastic. Problem is cost of biodegradable plastics.

I get what he said about things like packaging that gets thrown away, but as far as replacing plastics completely its hard. one of the most useful qualities of plastic is that it doesn't rust or breakdown that easy, which is a double edged sword

1. Fungus becomes a new material for packaging. 2. Companies create fast growing fungus. 3. Fungus unintentionally infects other living creatures. 4. The Last of Us apocalypse scenario begins.

Wow! Thanks for this video. There sure are some very smart and creative thinkers and developers demonstrated here. Wonderful! You give us hope for the future!

I did my MSc thesis under Han. What a guy. Amazing human and excellent scientist!