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Temporal characterization of biocycles of mycelium-bound composites made from bamboo and Pleurotus ostreatus for indoor usage

Summary

Scientists created a sustainable building material by growing oyster mushroom fungus on bamboo fibers. The material was strong enough for packaging and could be composted after use to enrich soil, completing a full cycle in about 7 months. By adding a natural beeswax coating, the material lasted longer while remaining completely biodegradable. This proof-of-concept demonstrates how fungal materials could replace synthetic plastics in a circular economy.

Background

Mycelium-bound composites (MBCs) are sustainable materials created by growing fungi on lignocellulosic substrates. They show promise for circular bioeconomy integration but require demonstration of both durability during use and biodegradability after disposal. Previous studies show limited experimental quantification of complete biocycles and durability-biodegradability balance.

Objective

To experimentally demonstrate and quantify a complete biocycle for MBCs made from bamboo substrate and Pleurotus ostreatus fungus. The study aims to measure the duration of each phase: bamboo growth, mycelium growth, indoor usage, and soil biodegradation, while assessing the role of protective coatings.

Results

One complete biocycle lasted approximately 7 months: bamboo growth (2-3 months), mycelium growth (15-28 days), indoor usage (2+ months with maintained mechanical properties), and soil biodegradation (less than 2 months). Beeswax coating improved shelf-life stiffness while stimulating biodegradation. Second-cycle MBCs grown from recycled substrate showed comparable mechanical properties to first-cycle samples.

Conclusion

This study provides the first experimental demonstration of a complete MBC biocycle suitable for packaging and short-term indoor applications. Protective coatings are critical for extending durability while maintaining biodegradability. Integrating MBC biocycles with bamboo processing byproduct streams could create multi-loop circular economies and optimize resource utilization.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 36371524, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24070-3
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