The Perfect Alternative For Plastic: Mushroom Packaging? 🍄

Mushroom Packaging 🍄: In this blog, we talk about mushroom packaging, a plastic substitute recently gaining traction. Let us know how effective this type of packaging is as a solution to the ever-growing plastic waste around us. Continue reading our blog to learn more.

For the longest time, we have suggested that to combat plastic waste, we should look to reduce its usage.

Fortunately, a lot of countries have become more and more aware of this, prompting them to act swiftly and implement laws to counter plastic waste. In California, USA, a new plastic waste law states that all packaging should be recyclable or compostable within 10 years.

On the other hand, Norway recently upgraded its support for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), an organisation that tackles all kinds of environmental challenges, which includes plastic pollution. The country pledged its support by inking a new cooperation agreement with UNEP of around 75.6 million dollars (NOK 520 million).

India, showing concern for its environment and wanting to practise sustainability, banned single-use plastic items, along with their manufacturing, importing and more last July 1 onwards.

Now, we go to Australia. Like India, NSW has recently banned a number of single-use plastic bags along with the addition of other disposable items such as utensils before the year 2022 ends. Supermarket giant Woolworths also joined in the fray and removed its 15c reusable bags to find more sustainable ways.

The next best thing to reduce plastic waste?

As we have stated above, many countries, fortunately, do not lack any initiatives in combatting the growing global plastic waste, as dire as the situation seems.

One of these solutions that piqued our interest is mushroom packaging. As a result, we here at Waster decided to write this blog to help you understand more about this apparently-sustainable packaging alternative to plastic.

So we suggest that you read on to learn more about mushroom packaging.

Waster: the provider of readily-available recycling solutions for small and medium Aussie businesses

Before we take you further into the discussion and talk about mushroom packaging, we want to share Waster with you.

Who is Waster? Why do plenty consider it one of the best waste and recycling companies in Australia?

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Simply put, Waster provides you with innovative solutions for your and your business’s waste management and recycling needs. In addition to that, we provide flexible, 30-day contracts instead of the typical lock-in contracts, which proves a better choice nowadays.

Click on the blue button below to learn more.

READ NOW: Discover The Best Plastic Free Shampoo Brands In Australia 🧴

What you should learn about mushroom packaging

First off, what is mushroom packaging? Before we get to that, we first have to detail how this type of sustainable packaging came about.

In 2006, Ecovative Design LLC, with the aim of replacing styrofoam waste with something much more environmentally friendly and sustainable, manufactured a new compostable packaging material.

The aftermath of what they’ve created came to be known as mushroom packaging. Mushroom packaging is used by countries such as the UK and different known large companies such as Ikea and Dell.

How do the manufacturers produce mushroom packaging?

UK-based Magical Mushroom Company (MMC), developed their mushroom packaging by combining two key components: mycelium – the root structure of a mushroom that has a natural polymer called Chitin – and agricultural waste. It was specifically created to replace fossil fuel-based packaging such as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), Polyethylene (PE) Foam, Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam, and also, Packaging inserts (die-cut).

The result of these combined components? A durable packaging that can biodegrade in as short as 45 days, comparable in price to traditional packaging like the ones mentioned above, claims the company. Users of mushroom packaging can easily add it to food waste, break it down and scatter it in their respective gardens. They can even mix it with seeds to grow flowers!

How long does mushroom packaging last? Assuming that it is kept in dry conditions, then it will have, more or less, 30 years of shelf life.

Using mushroom packaging

MMC has recently joined in on providing sustainable packaging in the UK. It has now raised a 3 million-Euro seed round led by Ecovative Design LLC with participation by Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity (a green energy company in the U.K.), Robert Del Naja (activist) and Marcus Watson, co-founder of Adoreum Partners, who brought 30 other investors.

The 3 million-Euro investment will be utilised as funding for the opening of its first raw material production plant.

“We have just eight years to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and businesses have a crucial role to play – but they need viable and cost-effective solutions that significantly reduce the carbon footprint across their entire supply chain. We’re proud to be creating value from waste and unlocking the potential of mycelium”, claimed Paul Giligan, CEO and founder of Magical Mushroom Company.

Presently, they have delivered around 500,000 pieces of mushroom packaging to different kinds of industries.

“A large and ever-growing selection of companies across multiple industries have ditched plastic in favour of our Mushroom Packaging. We have delivered 500,000 pieces of Mushroom Packaging solutions since our launch. And with our production capability ramping up as new factories in Nottingham and Sofia come online, our capacity has grown to 100,000 units per week (based on average unit size).”

Waster’s final thoughts

We here at Waster hope that mushroom packaging also comes to Australia in the near future. After all, we need all the help that we can get when it comes to the war against waste. This is especially true with plastic waste, specifically. In addition, we hope that this blog urged you to find other ways to get rid of plastic in your life.

Meanwhile, check out our video as we discuss down gauging and how it can help the environment:

Contact Waster right now for your waste and recycling needs now!

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Please call 1300 WASTER (1300 927 837).  You can also email us at info@waster.com.au or enquiries@waster.com.au if you have any further questions. Find the best deals in terms of waste and recycling pricing and services!