Nearly everything we buy is packaged and about 50% of it is made up of plastic. Due to the current environmental crisis on our hands, lots of brands are making changes hopefully for the future of the world that we all live in.
Almost 14 million tons of plastic is dumped into landfills every year. An estimated 80%-90% of marine debris is plastic. Being lightweight, plastic floats on the water surface and breaks down gradually by sunlight and waves. But it never really disappears.
With this in mind IKEA the huge Swedish retailer has decided to launch a new packaging to replace the hard to recycle polystyrene.
How the Mushroom Packaging is made-
1.Agricultural waste such as corn husks is cleaned.
2.Mycelium is added, and the mixture is left for a few days.
3.Mycelium grows fibres as it reaches out to digest the agricultural waste.
4.Mixture is broken up into loose particles.
5.Particles are put into shaped mould for a few days. Mycelium grows and forms a solid shape.
6.Solid shape is removed and dried to stop growth and prevent production of mushrooms or spores.
Source: Ecovative
Production of EcoCradleTM packaging material from mycelia and waste reportedly uses only 12% of the energy normally required in the manufacture of plastic packaging at the same time reducing carbon emissions by up to 90%. (http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5784)
I think this is a huge step in the right direction, particularly as IKEA is known as a cheaper alternative to stylish furniture. I don't think you can even really see the different with the packaging ( maybe a slight change in colour) and it if it serves the purpose to protect then thats its job fulfilled and why should it matter. Will Ikea be leading the industry in its new change to mushroom packaging? I don't know, the process as listed above isn't a super simple one but its defiantly worth the time. I think sometimes it takes a larger brand to make the first move for the other smaller brands to follow. Particularly as when buying larger items for our homes e.g. a sofa, bed or a coffee table, they do take a lot of packaging to protect.
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