Mycelium-based composite (MBC), composed of hemp shiv, shredded cardboard, wheat bran and reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum) millet grain spawn.

It is 100% bio-based and biodegradable, lightweight yet robust, making it suitable as a sustainable alternative material for applications such as lighting, furnishing, wall panels (both decorative and acoustic), packaging and sculptural objects.

The material is grown for 14 days before being released from its mould and allowed to grow further on the previously unexposed faces for 4 days. This creates a uniquely varied surface quality and texture; once dried, the front surface is more leathery, with orange and brown colouration and varied surface texture, while the edges and underside are white and soft like suede.

Softer, more malleable substrates (i.e. fibres, cardboard, paper) increase the likelihood of warping and shrinkage, while sturdier-structured substrates such as wood chips and hemp shiv reduce this.

It is also possible to add pigment to the surface of MBCs, either by painting or staining with dyes. While they are water resistant to an extent (the softer suede like surface is more permeable), they can also be coated to enhance water resistance.

One of the great benefits of creating a material out of mycelium is its ability to grow from ‘waste’ or byproducts, including spent coffee grounds, cardboard, fibres from clothes and many more.

Photos: Anna Batchelor, Indi Petrucci, Georgie Gerrard