Fungi: new sustainable alternatives

innovators are trying to change this perception by using fungi to create everyday objects. Not only are fungi readily available in nature but they're also sustainable and have the potential to replace less environmentally friendly materials, such as plastic. Is fungus the material of the future? Designer Maurizio Montalti asked himself this very question during his studies at the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands. 'It became apparent that fungi are the great recyclers of the natural world,' says Montalti. As a student, he developed an interest in ways of producing materials from alternative sources. Realizing fungi's hidden potential, but not having a background in biology, he contacted Han Wösten, a professor of microbiology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. In the years since, they have developed a method of growing fungi in a controlled environment that makes it a sustainable alternative to materials like plastic, rubber, wood and leather. With a goal of sharing their work with the public, they decided to stage an exhibition that included an array of everyday objects created from fungi, including chairs, lampshades and slippers. By allowing visitors to interact with each piece by picking it up and…