Scalable Mycelium Textile Offers Compostable Alternative To Leather
Researchers have developed a leather-like nonwoven textile made from fungal fibres. The material combines durability with compostability and can be produced continuously using existing industrial equipment. The team demonstrated its potential by turning the black-dyed textile into a prototype handbag.
An Alternative To Leather And Plastic
Conventional leather offers strength and durability, but animal agriculture has a considerable environmental impact. Many vegan leather alternatives, meanwhile, contain petroleum-based plastics that can be difficult to recycle and may persist after disposal.
Mycelium, the network of thread-like fibres produced by fungi, could offer a biobased alternative. Manufacturers usually grow mycelium across trays, allowing its fibres to form a solid sheet. However, this process is difficult to scale up for mass production.
Researchers Manuel Arias-Barrantes, Géza Szilvay and their colleagues addressed this limitation by growing the fungus Trichoderma reesei in tanks filled with a nutrient-rich liquid. Similar tanks are already widely used in brewing and biotechnology. Rather than forming a sheet, the fungus developed into a thick, pulp-like mass.
From Fungal Pulp To Flexible Sheets
After harvesting and washing the fungal pulp, the team added sorbitol and cellulose to improve its flexibility and strength. Sorbitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol, while cellulose forms the main structural component of plant cell walls. The researchers then spread the mixture into thin sheets and dried it to create a leather-like nonwoven fabric.
This pulp-based method provides greater control over the material’s final properties than tray cultivation. Manufacturers could potentially adjust its colour, texture and performance or apply the mycelium layer to a cotton substrate.
To test its scalability, the researchers processed the material with rollers similar to those used in paper production. This continuous method produced sheets measuring approximately 20 centimetres wide and eight metres long.
Promising Performance And End-Of-Life Options
Laboratory tests showed that the material achieved tensile strength comparable to conventional leather. It broke down in water within 28 days and completely disintegrated under industrial composting conditions in approximately six weeks. These results suggest potential for products designed with a defined biological end-of-life route.
However, the textile still needs greater tear resistance before it can be used in consumer products. Its compatibility with established equipment in the biotechnology, paper and printing industries could nevertheless support future commercial-scale production. Potential applications include fashion accessories, footwear, upholstery and other flexible product surfaces.
Source: American Chemical Society