Haeckels, the wellness brand, recently debuted a new packaging material that performs like plastic but is made with mushrooms, called Mycelium. All of the brand's products will be made from the eco-friendly, biodegradable material, and according to founder Dom Bridges, the beautiful texture of the material is part of its allure.
Mycelium is a "living breathing product which [Haeckels] can grow and turn into the packaging [found in] stores." It boasts webs of thread-like roots that consume crop waste. In addition, the material can easily be decomposed simply by adding seaweed, and, once decomposed, it actually contributes to the quality of the soil, rather than being lost in a landfill for hundreds of years like traditional plastic.
Biodegradable Fungal-Based Packaging
The Haeckels Mycelium Packaging Performs like Plastic
Trend Themes
1. Fungal-based Materials - Companies can explore alternatives to traditional materials by using biodegradable alternatives like mycelium-based packaging.
2. Sustainable Packaging - The popularity of eco-friendly packaging materials like mycelium-based packaging creates opportunities for businesses to reduce their environmental impact.
3. Circular Economy - The use of mycelium-based packaging supports a circular economy by offering a sustainable solution for waste reduction and soil improvement.
Industry Implications
1. Consumer Goods - Consumer goods companies can adopt mycelium-based packaging to improve sustainability and meet consumers' demand for eco-friendly products.
2. Food and Beverage - Food and beverage companies can explore the use of mycelium-based packaging to reduce plastic waste and create a more sustainable supply chain.
3. Retail - Retailers can adopt mycelium-based packaging to reduce their environmental impact and attract eco-conscious customers.