"There is no waste out in the forest, and the fungus is a big part of the reason for that"
Meet the magical mycelium
Materials on loan for an indefinite period
What is mycelium? Mycelium is a microorganism that grows everywhere under our feet. It is a branch-like root system that can grow to extend for many kilometers. Mycelium is among nature's oldest growths and has undergone billions of years of evolution.
Long before we humans came along, the mycelium was here. It created the entire basis for plant growth and moved life out of the sea. This ancient organism plays a very central and vital role in allowing life to exist and thrive on Earth, because together with bacteria, fungi are responsible for breaking down organic matter.
Fungi are more aminal than they are plants, but are actually neither. Fungi metabolize organic matter and transfer nutrients and minerals such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus back into the soil and to plants in our ecosystems. This eliminates the concept of waste in nature.It does this by releasing enzymes that adapt to the environment, making the mycelium very effective at breaking down organic material.
The biogenic materials
But hemp is far from the only source of raw material that is relevant to mention. With the amazing technology of mycelium, all plant residue fibers can be obtained and transformed into the mushroom-like, fire-retardant, sound-absorbing, insulation material that we produce today as acoustic panels.
Hemp is one of the world's oldest useful plants. Oil-containing seeds can be harvested from hemp - the stems have many uses: from animal feed, rope and clothing to sanitary napkins, cosmetics and construction.
Hemp fibers have high strength and a much higher cellulose content than wood. The plant grows quickly, unlike wood. Hemp is CO2-reducing, and pests do not like the basic hemp pulp.
