Brilliant idea George

What do you need help with. If you can provide a few tricky things you are trying to over come we can target our resources to addressing them. So many applications for this exciting material. Might be worth having a chat to these guys, https://www.fungisolutions.com.au/

Looking forward to seeing your project evolve. 

Hi, I am currently an Engineering student studying Creative Engineering (ENEG12007) at CQU. I really like this idea and think it's an interesting sustainable alternative to plastics. I have a few potential considerations that may arise:

- How long will it take for the mycelium to grow to fit the mould? For instance a quick google tells me that while it varies for species, some of the slower species can take a few months. 

- How expensive would it be to maintain an environment to support mycelium growth in terms of energy, water and cost?

- Are there any safety risks to consider such as prolonged contact with food or for people with mycelium allergies?

Interested to see this succeed.

Hi George,

This is a terrific idea. Single-use lids are a common pollutant I see far too often among litter. It's especially an issue with festivals, which often leave large amounts of single-use products in or nearby natural areas. Mycelium would be a great sustainable alternative to address this.

In addition to the feedback from other comments, one query I have is how effectively the mycelium lid would seal the cup. The product would need to fit the rim and be structurally sound enough to prevent any spills and subsequent burns to the consumer. 

Another aspect that could be considered is the storage and lifespan of the product; Is there any limit on how long the mycelium lids can be stored for and still be fit for use?

I really like this idea, and hope it succeeds!

Cheers,

Sylvian MC, (ENEG12007) Creative Engineering student at CQU