Improving Biodegradable Products with Fungi

Balancing performance and biodegradability has long challenged materials science: natural polymers like cellulose, lignin, or chitin degrade readily but lack durability unless chemically enhanced—often sacrificing sustainability. Now, researchers at Empa’s Cellulose and Wood Materials Lab in Switzerland have sidestepped this compromise by harnessing living fungal networks.

As detailed in the journal Advanced Materials, using the split‑gill mushroom’s mycelium, the team cultivated a strain rich in two key biomolecules: the nanofiber schizophyllan and the surface‑active protein hydrophobin. As the fungus grows, it weaves an extracellular matrix of hyphae, polysaccharides, and proteins—nature’s own composite optimized over millennia. By selecting a variant that overproduces these compounds, the researchers created a material that remains fully biodegradable yet boasts remarkable tear resistance and functional versatility.

In one demonstration, the living mycelium stabilized emulsions—mixtures of oil and water—more effectively over time than any conventional emulsifier. As the fungus continues secreting hydrophobin and schizophyllan, the emulsion’s stability actually improves, making it an intriguing candidate for food, cosmetics, or paints. In another trial, the researchers molded thin films whose tensile strength rivals plastics; aligning fungal filaments and polysaccharide fibers further enhances mechanical performance.

Because the material responds dynamically to its environment, the team envisions applications that leverage, rather than fight, its living nature. For instance, compostable bags made from this mycelium could accelerate organic waste breakdown. In electronics, its moisture‑sensitive behavior could yield biodegradable humidity sensors. Empa scientists are also exploring “fungal paper” electrodes for compact, eco‑friendly biobatteries.