Old Fungus Used For Fires Sparks Potential As Plastic Packaging Alternative

An old fungus known as ‘tinder fungus’ which is often used to start fires is now being considered by scientists to aid the plastic crisis.

The mushrooms are usually found on rotting beech and birch trees and are traditionally used as an excellent kindling material. So, how will it make the crossover to be used as a packaging material?

A study published in Science Advances posits that the Fomes fomentarius (its official name) has a strong yet lightweight consistency that could make it a viable alternative to plastic.

Interestingly, its structural strength is more akin to plywood or leather but at a lower weight. Nevertheless, Dr Pezhman Mohammadi, senior scientist at the project’s governing institution, VTT Technological Research Center of Finland, told CNN that certain grades of plastic and other shock-absorbing materials could be produced when developed in a lab with basic ingredients.

According to Mohammadi, its stiff protective layer and spongy midsection could outperform currently used manufactured materials.

That being said, the team does not suggest plucking the tinder fungus off of trees as it takes a decade to mature, and the mushrooms are essential in helping these rotting trees decompose. Instead, they want to grow the material in the lab so that nature can be left undisturbed.

[via Interesting Engineering and CNN, Photo 137655028 © Lianem | Dreamstime.com]