Packaging made from mushrooms, for mushrooms, is being tested in the hope that it will keep the fungi fresher longer. Christchurch mushroom grower, Meadow Mushrooms, is trialing the packaging it has developed and made from mushroom stalks, for its own products.
The 50-year-old family business worked with Plant and Food Research and the Biopolymer Network to develop the punnet prototypes that have been designed to be breathable, keeping the mushrooms fresh. The packaging also takes on a mushroom’s ability to absorb water, which allows the packaging to absorb moisture from its surroundings, like from a refrigerator, without losing its structural strength.
Beyond packaging mushrooms, the material has also been trialed for use in disposable cups and plates, and it could even be used to package other produce. The hope is to get this mushroom-based packaging out on the market sometime late next year.
