Number
044-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Manufacture of pulp, paper and paper products
Function
Foamant
Process
Other
Product category
other
Application
Packing material and insulation
Abstract
Alternative protective material that uses mushroom roots to transform agricultural waste products into strong and compostable packing materials and insulation.
Substituted substances
Polystyrene
CAS No. 9003-53-6 EC No. 500-008-9 Index No.
Chemical group
Polymers
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Reason substitution
other reasons
Other type of alternative
Mushroom technology made from agricultural crop waste such as buckwheat and cottonseed hulls and rice huskbonded together with mycelium. It’s totally renewable and home compostable.
Hazard Assessment
Substance to be substituted: Polystyrene is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database and has no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). Alternative substance: Non-chemical alternative, it is not Hazards assessed in SUBSPORTplus. » Check the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC)
Description of Substitution
Protective packaging is needed whenever a product has to be sent or transported. The most common form of packaging is polystyrene foam due to its ability to protect an object from bumps and falls while being very light and easily moulded. One problem of polystyrene foam is that it is a petroleum-based product that does not biodegrade for hundreds of years and is resistant to photolysis. Ecocradle is an alternative to polystyrol foam that protects goods just as well, but will easily compost after use. The new protective material uses mycelium which comes from mushrooms. It grows around agricultural by-products like seed husks or plant stalks to any shape.
Case/substitution evaluation
The substitution is an environmentally responsible alternative that uses waste materials and that is renewable and biodegradable. It can be moulded into any required shape. The mushroom packaging takes five to ten days to grow. It is an non chemical alternative, therefore the substitution is outstanding.
State of implementation
In use
Date and place of implementation
2010 in USA
Availability ofAlternative
Alternative is available on the market.
Producer/Provider
Type of information supplier
Producer / distributor
Research
Contact
Producer and inventor: http://www.mushroompackaging.com/
Further information
Date, reviewed
December 11, 2020