When there’s mushroom for improvement

• Did you know that around 10% of total global emissions come from making clothing and footwear production, while around 35% of all microplastics present in the oceans are thought to come from clothing?
• Sure, we can reduce or even avoid buying into fast fashion and clothes made of unsustainable materials such as leather, but arethere  more viable alternatives?
• Here’s one! Inspired by tempeh, an Indonesian soy-based delicacy, 500-backed Mycotech Lab (MYCL) has created an alternative to conventional fibers called Mylea. This durable, regenerative material is formed from mushrooms, and can be used in textiles, construction, and as a replacement for animal-derived leather.
• Yup, you read that right — mushrooms! Mylea is very similar to leather in texture, look, and feel. 
• Co-founder & CEO Adi Reza Nugroho’s goal now is to scale up production. “If we are producing more and more, and become more efficient, we can compete even with synthetic leather, which is the most available and affordable product in this space right now,” he explained.
• What’s the actual impact of this sustainable technology? “Three things we have measured through high-level life cycle assessment,” he shared. “Potential reduced water consumption of 70%, global warming potential reductions of 68%, and reduced energy consumption of 17% over leather.”
• Read the full interview here.