Sustainnovation - Mycelium insulation

This blog is part of our Sustainnovation series.

Sustainnovation is an exhibition (both physical and digital) of some of the most sustainable and innovative products coming onto the market at the moment. Our engineers and designers have carefully selected products that they feel will help us, and the planet, achieve our sustainability goals.

Mycelium insulation

Mycelium is the vegetative filament root structure of mushrooms. It is essential to growing materials from organic and synthetic substrates that are the by-products or ‘wastes’ of other industries.

These mycelium insulation panels will be the world’s first accredited mycelium insulation product.

Mycelium not only outperforms petrochemical/plastic-based construction materials in thermal and acoustic insulation but, as a natural material, it is also safer and healthier. Agricultural by-products that would otherwise go to landfill can be used to grow mycelium, and the entire manufacturing process has a small carbon footprint. This means it is completely regenerative and is estimated to be carbon negative, sequestering at least 16 tonnes of carbon per month.

A sample of a mycelium panel is currently on display in our Edinburgh office.

Manufacturers: Biohm - London, UK

Biohm is a multi-award-winning research and development led, biomanufacturing company. Nature leads their innovation, with the aim to revolutionise construction and create a healthier, more sustainable, built environment. To create their products, Biohm focuses on finding regenerative alternatives for waste management, manufacturing and building. Their philosophy that nothing is ever-lasting and everything is ever-changing is instilled in everything they do.

For more information on this material, please see the Biohm website here.