Fungal biomassderived textiles

The textile industry is infamous for its significant environmental impact arising from its use of unsustainable materials and polluting production methods. Apart from the quantity of harmful chemical waste generated in many steps of the manufacturing process, fast-changing fashion trends lead to short apparel life cycles and an increasing amount of textile waste. A potential solution would be to end fast fashion but is that realistic? In general, more sustainable solutions, such as biodegradable fabrics made from renewable sources, are required. 

Interest in materials derived from fungi has grown due to their eco-friendliness and unique mechanical properties. Fungi-based fabrics, mainly comprising structural biopolymers, such as chitin, chitosan and β-glucan, offer a biodegradable alternative to traditional textiles. My project focuses on developing textile materials from fungal biomass other than the prevalent biomanufacturing using mycelium-based approaches. Choosing fungal biomass over fungal growth approaches addresses limitations associated with mycelium-based textiles, such as inhomogeneities in film properties and strict cultivation conditions. My approach enhances production efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. The production process involves extraction of chitin, chitosan and β-glucan from fungal fruiting bodies, followed by film formation and if needed incorporation of reinforcements.

I will explore the potential of chitin-glucan sheets derived from fungal fruiting bodies as a promising, sustainable alternative to conventional textiles. The developed process will demonstrate the feasibility of producing eco-friendly materials suitable for various applications in the fashion and textile industry, which at their end-of-life are biodegradable.