When you think of mushrooms, you might picture them on your plate. But researchers in Spain are showing how fungi can also shape the future of packaging. Their latest project turns mushroom mycelium into a biodegradable, durable material that can replace plastic.

This is part of a growing global movement: companies in the US, Europe, and Asia are all exploring how fungi can tackle one of the world’s biggest waste challenges. By transforming side streams and agricultural by-products into packaging, mycelium offers a double win, reducing plastic pollution and making better use of resources.

For mushroom growers and industry players, it’s another example of how fungi are stepping outside the farm and into mainstream innovation.