Research Trend and Product Development Potential of Fungal Mycelium- based Composite Materials

Fungal mycelium-based composite materials (FMBC) are a new biomaterial to replace the existing composite materials. To compete with lightweight, high-performance composite materials represented by fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), various physical and chemical properties and functionality must be secured. Especially, the composite materials made by using mycelium of mushroom is called mushroom plastic. Currently, Ecovative, Grado Zero Espace and MycoWorks in USA and Europe are launching new products. Products utilizing FMBC can be launched in the market for construction materials, automobile interior materials and artificial leather substitutes. In spite of this high possibility, mass production using FMBC has not yet been reported. This review introduces the FMBC, a material that can replace existing plastics, inorganic building materials and animal skins in an environmentally and economically viable way, and looks at the possibility of future biomaterials by summarizing recent research contents.