The promise of mycelium bricks Premium

Mycelium bricks offer a sustainable alternative to traditional construction materials, despite current limitations in strength and cost.

In the light of climate change, the construction industry like many others is considering how it can reduce its carbon footprint and become more sustainable.

One opportunity is concerned with bricks. Fired clay bricks have been the mainstay of the construction industry but their production also emits nearly 300 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, which could increase with more urbanisation.

A new advance on this front is mycelium bricks. Mycelia are the branching filaments of fungi that make up its vegetative part. Researchers have them harnessed to create biodegradable, fire-resistant, and insulative bricks. They are made by combining husk, sawdust, and fungal spores to create a fibrous network that solidifies into a lightweight material. Within a few days, these materials become a hardier structure.

Mycelium bricks have the potential to reduce the building sector’s carbon footprint, its proponents have said. They are relatively more lightweight and good insulators of heat. Aside from potential use as panelling material in interior designs, researchers believe mycelium-based components can be used in liquid filters, sports equipment, and printed circuit boards.

But before they can find wider use, mycelium materials need to improve in many ways. At present they can’t bear heavier loads for longer periods. One 2020 review found that while mycelium composites have a high strength to weight ratio, it is two orders of magnitude lower than concrete. They are also susceptible to moisture, biodegrade in a few years, and can’t be produced en masse.

“The cost of growing and treating fungi for construction purposes is currently higher due to lack of infrastructure,” Rakesh Jha, a civil engineer and the founder of Patna-based Veritech Infrastructure, said.

India’s tropical weather exacerbates these problems. “Mycelium-based materials are not as strong as conventional materials like concrete or brick or steel. Due to mycelium being highly absorbent, it … vulnerable to moisture and fungal decay in India’s climate,” Jha added.