Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed biodegradable packaging material using agricultural and paper waste, offering a promising alternative to plastic foam in the packaging industry.
The innovation, published in Bioresource Technology Reports, uses mycelium-based biocomposites grown on discarded organic matter and fungi. The research not only addresses India's mounting plastic waste but also proposes a sustainable solution to the burning of crop residues that contributes to air pollution.
Lakshminath Kundanati, Assistant Professor at the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering, said the innovation seeks to tackle two significant environmental challenges simultaneously, plastic pollution and agricultural waste disposal.
“In India, over 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste are generated annually, much of which is burned or left to decay, causing air pollution and wasting valuable resources. Our research aimed to address both challenges, plastic pollution and agricultural waste, by developing mycelium-based biocomposites as sustainable, biodegradable packaging materials,” he explained.
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“By converting agricultural residues into high-strength, biodegradable packaging materials, this work directly supports reducing plastic waste produced in India which currently exceeds four million tonnes annually and leverages the 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste generated each year,” Kundanati added.
The research team cultivated mushroom species such as Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus on agricultural and paper waste to create a composite material with properties rivalling conventional plastic foams. The mycelium growth creates a network that binds the waste together, resulting in compostable, high-strength forms suitable for protective packaging.
“Currently, the research has demonstrated feasibility at the laboratory scale, with mechanical properties, water resistance, and biodegradability. The way forward includes optimising substrate compositions for scalability, extending shelf life through natural coatings,” said Kundanati. He added that the materials could also be adapted for thermal and acoustic insulation applications.
Research scholar Sandra Rose Biby, a co-author of the study, noted that the team examined how substrate variations affected the performance of the biocomposites. “This study systematically explores how different substrates influence mycelial growth density, hyphal microstructure, compressive strength, water absorption and biodegradability,” she said.
Biby added, “The project investigated optimal combinations of fungal strains and substrates to produce composites with mechanical properties and tune in the features of conventional plastic foams. Ultimately, this research targets reducing the ecological footprint of packaging industries and promoting sustainable alternatives that can contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet.”
Aligned with circular economy principles, the innovation diverts waste that would otherwise be burnt, and instead transforms it into value-added, eco-friendly products. The team hopes that with further research and scaling, the solution will contribute to reducing India’s heavy dependence on single-use plastics.
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