The manufacture of mycelium-based bio-foams using upcycling waste materials and the study of the Canadian market potential for small-size products

This project will produce mycelium-based bio-foams (MBFs) using waste materials and edible mushroom strains. MBFs are a type of eco-friendly material, which has the potential to replace EPS in terms of foam packaging properties. The manufacturing of the product is a self-assembling process, without mining natural resources and generating wastes. It can also be crushed easily and thrown into the backyard as fertilizer at the end of its life cycle. Therefore, using MBFs as packaging materials will reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and solid wastes sent to landfills. Commodities using MBFs as packaging may be more popular because customers are more inclined towards greener products with the increasing awareness of environmental protection. Companies using MBFS instead of EPS show more social responsibility and may get greenhouse gas offset credit.

Faculty Supervisor:

Qiuyan Yuan;Georg Hausner

Student:

Partner:

North Forge

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education; Management of companies and enterprises; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Manitoba

Program: