Future Fungal Foundations: Revolutionizing Construction & Waste Management with Mycelium

While I don't believe our digital networks will ever operate on the super fungal highway, in the quest for sustainable building practices, an unlikely hero has emerged from the forest floor: mycelium. This remarkable fungal network, which forms the root structure of mushrooms, is proving to be a game-changer in the construction industry. By harnessing the power of mycelium, innovative companies are not only creating eco-friendly building materials but also tackling the persistent problem of construction waste.

Content for this article was adapted from the following podcast with Joanne Rodriguez, LEED AP, FitWel Amb, CDT .

Understanding Mycelium

Before delving into its applications, it's crucial to understand what mycelium is. Joanne Rodriguez, founder of Mycocycle, explains: "Fungi, however, is the entire body of a mushroom that is composed of the mushroom and mycelium. Mycelium is the root structure that can grow for miles underground with a cell structure that is made of chitin, which is the purest form of biopolymer.” This unique composition gives mycelium its versatility and strength, making it an ideal candidate for various construction applications.

Mycelium's Role in Waste Reduction

One of the most promising aspects of mycelium in construction is its ability to tackle waste. Rodriguez's company, Mycocycle, is at the forefront of this revolution. "At Mycocycle, we're training mushrooms to eat trash and create renewable bio-based raw materials, effectively decarbonizing industrial waste streams with a specific focus on the built environment.” This innovative approach addresses two critical issues simultaneously: waste reduction and the creation of sustainable materials.

Transforming Construction Waste

The construction industry generates vast amounts of waste, much of which ends up in landfills. Mycelium-based technologies offer a solution to this problem. Rodriguez details their process: "The core materials we're treating are petrochemical based. Anything that has a heavy hydrocarbon in it, mycelium-like, that's what it knows in nature. We can extend that into plastics. So plasticizers are all in construction materials."

This ability to break down complex materials is particularly valuable for items that are traditionally difficult to recycle, such as carpet. "For carpet specifically, we don't have to separate any of it. We just grind it down," Rodriguez explains1. This simplification of the recycling process could lead to significant reductions in construction waste sent to landfills.

Creating New Building Materials

The true magic of mycelium lies in its ability to not only break down waste but also to form new, usable materials. Mycocycle's process involves grinding down waste materials, blending them with their mycelium treatment, and allowing it to incubate. The result is a versatile material that can be used in various applications.

Rodriguez describes the end product: "It feels super fluffy, just like gypsum that you would add to your garden. But now it's mycelium plus. And so it might be mycelium plus carpet." This "mycelium plus" material can be used as a filler or additive in construction, replacing materials that would typically be mined from the earth.

Decentralizing Waste Management

One of the innovative aspects of mycelium-based waste processing is its potential to decentralize waste management. Mycocycle uses mobile bioprocessors, which Rodriguez calls "MyContainers," that can be deployed directly to construction sites or waste aggregation points. "We really want to decentralize waste management, make it easy to get the waste where it's being generated," she explains.

This approach not only reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting waste but also makes recycling more accessible to smaller contractors and projects. It's a step towards a more circular economy in the construction industry.

Environmental Benefits

The environmental benefits of using mycelium in construction extend beyond waste reduction. For every ton of waste diverted through mycelium processing, there's a significant reduction in carbon emissions. Additionally, by creating materials that can replace mined resources, mycelium-based products help reduce the environmental impact of raw material extraction.

Challenges and Future Prospects

While the potential of mycelium in construction is exciting, the industry still faces challenges in scaling up these technologies and creating market demand for mycelium-based products. However, Rodriguez remains optimistic: "We're seeing people do it. When people are like, well, how will you do that? I'm like, right here, right here. They're already doing it, right? And we could do that too."

As more companies and researchers explore the possibilities of mycelium, we can expect to see an increasing range of applications in the construction industry. From insulation materials to structural components, the fungal frontier is just beginning to be explored.

Conclusion

The integration of mycelium into the construction industry represents a significant step towards more sustainable building practices. By turning waste into valuable resources and creating eco-friendly materials, mycelium technologies offer a promising solution to some of the industry's most pressing environmental challenges. As we continue to innovate and scale these solutions, we move closer to a future where buildings not only shelter us but also contribute positively to our planet's health.

The journey of mycelium from the forest floor to the construction site is a testament to the power of biomimicry and the potential for nature-inspired solutions to our most complex problems. As Rodriguez aptly puts it, "We don't have to take more from the earth." With mycelium, we're not just building structures; we're growing a more sustainable future.

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