Solving the Plastic Packaging Problem
Recycle 2.0 was launched with the purpose of continuing education on the current worldwide recycling challenges. Plastics are a big part of that issue. As long as we continue producing plastic products at the current rate, the topic is not going to be solved by reuse and recycling plans alone.
Ecovative, a New York-based advanced materials company, is actively working on designing the future of sustainable materials with their trademarked Mycelium Biofabrication Platform™. Mycelium is a multicellular organism and, in simple terms, can be shaped into high performance 3D structures that are programmable. They are already creating and prototyping in the fashion/beauty industry, building materials, performance foam materials and packaging.
One of my favorite products they produce is the Mushroom® Material planters made from Mycocomposite™.
The Mushroom Material planters are made from Mycocomposite™. The substrate is created from agricultural waste (i.e. corn stalks and husks) and is cleaned, then mixed with mycelium. The resulting material is packed into reusable “growth trays”, grown for 6 days and then put into a dryer. I remember when my mom used to buy plants every Spring and each one came in one of those plastic containers. I always thought it was a waste. This product is designed for indoor and outdoor use – and even has a drainage hole in the bottom. When the Mushroom Material planters are broken into pieces and put into soil, they biodegrade in about 60 days. It’s a great plastic-alternative product.
If you know of an innovative product that could potentially help curb our plastics issue, let us know!