A Solution is Growing: Are Mycelium-based materials the answer for a sustainable future in the built environment?

Rising global temperatures and environmental pollution have put into question traditional construction materials in search of sustainable solutions. An alternative lies in the utilisation of biological materials through growing mycelium-forming fungal microorganisms on various organic feedstocks. Surviving numerous mass extinctions and dramatic changes in climate, these microscopic heterotrophic organisms play a key role in recycling biomass. Newly developing research questions the possibility of utilising this organism’s naturally occurring recycling properties to incorporate it within the structures where humans spend the majority of their time, buildings. The root-like network of hyphae (mycelium) is an organism responsible for nutrient sourcing and transportation for the growth, and reproduction of fungi (Biala and Ostermann 2024). To grow it requires access to an organic substrate to decompose and subtract nutrients from (Biala and Ostermann 2024). This naturally occurring process has been developed within lab environments to create naturally formed structures, (Agraviador, 2024) and combined with various feedstocks to create mycelium-based composites (MBCs), with properties deeming them potentially useful within the built environment (Jones et al., 2020). Promising results in this potentially pioneering sustainable material have been collected. This paper discusses the suitability of mycelium-based materials in relation to; resource sustainability, durability, recyclability, feasibility, and pollution through investigating existing case studies and analysing current research. An analysis of companies currently developing these products regarding the costs, scalability, and limitations alongside a comparison to traditional construction materials regarding key factors such as acoustic, and thermal insulating capabilities has been explored, alongside a prediction of future projection. The research is conducted with a pragmatic and postpositivist approach with a critical analysis of data with a mixed-method approach. This provides a comprehensive insight into the use of mycelium as a potentially sustainable and innovative building material, alongside the necessary development for its implementation in the construction industry.