How Fungi Could Replace Concrete For Long Term Sustainable Hope

The challenging situation of global warming has been attributed to the increase in concrete jungles and the depletion in green covers across the globe. But this might just become a problem of the past, as fungi could be the solution to all the concretization issues of the world.

According to Ian Fletcher, senior professor of Architecture, Leeds Beckett University, fungi can actually be used to create a green construction industry. The actual construction material is derived from fungi. They are called mycelium composites. This material is created by growing mycelium – the thread-like main body of a fungus – of certain mushroom-producing fungi on agricultural wastes.

Current updates confirm that together, buildings and construction contributes to 39% of the world’s carbon footprint. Energy used to heat, cool and light buildings accounts for 28% of these emissions too. Amongst these, households are the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases since 2015, accounting for a quarter of total UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2017.

While the current corona virus outbreak has reduced the temporary carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, the use of alternate sustainable construction material will show long term benefits.

It is not so much as aviation fuel, but construction material that is responsible for the growing carbon emission levels in the world. According to Fletcher’s commendable research findings, Mycelium are mainly composed of a web of filaments called “hyphae”, which acts as a natural binder, growing to form huge networks called “mycelia”. These grow by digesting nutrients from agricultural waste while bonding to the surface of the waste material, acting as natural self-assembling glue. The entire process uses biological growth rather than expensive, energy intensive manufacturing processes.

A New York based architectural firm has already made use of organic mycelium. Another structure stands in Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism exhibition.  Adds Fletcher, “The development of mycelium materials from locally sourced agricultural waste could reduce the construction industry’s reliance on traditional materials, which could improve its carbon footprint. Mycelium composite manufacturing also has the potential to be a major driving force in developing new bio-industries in rural areas, generating sustainable economic growth while creating new jobs.”