Mycelium leather could offer a more sustainable material for the next generation of protective clothing, researchers have said.
Mycelium has long been a subject of research for its use as a sustainable alternative for all manner of materials, from building insulation to packaging. Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus that grows underground and consists of a network of thin thread-like strands called hyphae.
A team at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University developed their mycelium leather in the lab from fungal networks cultivated using agricultural waste and water. Unlike animal and plastic-derived leathers, it uses fewer hazardous chemicals during its production and releases less carbon into the atmosphere. The resulting fabric looks and feels like these other leathers, while being durable, but is completely biodegradable.
Having previously looked into mycelium’s use as fireproof architectural cladding, Dr Tien Huynh from RMIT’s School of Science aimed to...