KOZ from Bretagne started to make surfboards using mycelium in 2023; the one on the picture were treated with Greenepoxy.
Neffa’s Mycotex set-up at the Salone del Mobile in Milan in April 2025. Award winning Neffa has shifted its focus slightly away from fashion (see the mycelium dress for example in MB94) towards interior design. Photos: Neffa.
natural weaving ability to produce strong, flexible, and luxurious leather-like materials. Mycoworks’ process in relatively small boxes allows for precise control over material qualities, while Mycelium Materials Europe focuses on scalable composites for broader use. MME retrofitted existing infrastructure and took advantage of existing technology from the white button mushroom sector. It produced large rectangular slabs where once mushrooms were picked. MME works in a closed chain with Ecovative after an initial partnership with Bold (see MB124/105). A significant weak point remains: mycelium- based leathers, while biodegradable, are also sensitive to moisture and environmental exposure. Without special coatings or treatments, these materials are prone to rapid degradation, limiting their suitability for outdoor or high-wear applications. The challenge remains: production costs, consumer education, and tough competi- tion from established industries.
MyBacon & other edible mycelium Food innovation is central to mycelium’s rise. Ecovative (USA), co-founded by Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre, has successfully introduced MyBacon, a mycelium-based bacon alternative prized for its authentic texture and environ- mental benefits. Despite these advances, mycelium food faces regulatory hurdles in Europe. The Novel food regulations mean companies must undergo expensive and time-consuming approval procedures before launching products. As a result, Hamburg-based Infinite Roots decided to introduce its mycelium food products in Singapore, where regulatory pathways are more accommodating for novel foods. Dutch
company Enough is also pioneering edible mycelium foods, using the filamentous fungus Fusarium venenatum as its core strain. This highly efficient organism is cultivated to produce Abunda® mycoprotein, a versatile, protein-rich ingredient for plant-based meats. As this organism had been used for decades, its products are not considered novel food. Edible products are less affected by degradation concerns, but scaling production to meet global food demand still poses economic challenges.
Mycelium garments Fashion and sustainability converge in the work of Dasha Tsapenko, who crafts garments from living mycelium grown on natural fibers. These biodegradable textiles are not only visually striking but also reduce the water, energy, and chemical inputs of traditional fabric production. However, their inherent tendency to break down in moist environments or with repeated use means they require additional finishes or maintenance to compete with conventional textiles, especially when exposed to the elements. Dasha showed a whole range of mycelium applications at Dutch Design Week 2024 and has presented a mycelium raincoat at DDW2025.
Packaging Packaging waste has sparked a wave of myceli- um-based solutions.
Grown.bio (Netherlands), founded by Jan Berbee and Arthur Moree, turns agricultural residues with mycelium into compostable packaging and insulation. Magical Mushroom (UK) produces packaging that biodegrades in weeks and announced large contracts this year. Microbez in Switzerland, Biomyc in Bulgaria, and several startups in
Mycelium should not be seen as a solution for
everything. It can take a decade to make an impact in some markets.
MUSHROOM BUSINESS 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
