Mushrooms Replace Formaldehydes In Particleboard Manufacturing

An American design and material science company has developed an unlikely replacement for the toxic urea formaldehyde used in particleboard manufacturing: mushrooms.

Ecovative Design has figured out how to replace urea formaldehyde, which is used to bind wood particles together in particleboards, with the root structure of mushrooms, called mycelium.

The firm claims that mycelium performs as good as any formaldehyde in binding the wood particles, but will break down into harmless organic matter when disposed.

Ecovative is currently using mycelium in particleboard, insulation, brick manufacturing and packaging materials, but has predicted that the product will be used in the manufacturing of other construction materials in the future.

From Architecture & Design.