About

• Mycelium bricks are eco-friendly construction materials made from the fungi mycelium.
• The fungi is grown on agricultural waste, like straw and sawdust to create a fibrous network that solidifies into a lightweight material, which hardens over time and can be used as bricks in the construction sector.
• They are biodegradable, lightweight and good insulators of heat.

Uses:

• Mycelium bricks have the potential to replace fired clay bricks, whose production emits nearly 300 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
• Mycelium bricks find potential use as panelling material in interior designs. 
• They can also be used in liquid filters, sports equipment and electronic components.

Challenges: 

• These bricks have a low load bearing capacity and high moisture absorption, making them less durable than concrete.
• The cost of growing and treating fungi for construction purposes is currently higher due to lack of infrastructure.
• While mycelium is naturally fire-resistant, prolonged exposure to heat could cause structural failure in buildings.