Latvian scientists create alternative to Styrofoam from mushroom mycelium

RIGA - Latvian scientists have created a biodegradable material from mushroom mycelium and wood processing residue that can be used as an alternative to Styrofoam in packaging, Evita Veinberga, a representative of the Latvian Mycological Society, said in the podcast What on Earth Was That?!

The mycelium composite pellets developed by the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry are intended to fill empty spaces in shipping crates and protect fragile items. The material is made from fungal mycelium and lignocellulosic waste, such as wood biomass or hemp shives.

Unlike Styrofoam, this material is biodegradable and compostable. The mycelium filaments intertwine with a wood- or plant-based substrate, forming a lightweight, moldable material that can be used to produce pellets, panels, and other products.

For this innovation, the institute received an award at the 2025 WorldStar for Packaging international competition.

In the podcast, mycologists noted that the importance of mushrooms extends beyond what ends up in a mushroom hunter’s basket. Mycelium can serve as both a packaging material and an alternative to other oil-based products, and researchers are also exploring the use of mushroom pigments for natural dyes.