Chinese design studio NONGZAO has launched a new project called CONSUMER that explores using mycelium and agricultural waste to transform everyday plastic objects into aesthetically unique biodegradable items.
Designers Gang Xu, Yatu Tan, Lili Liang, and Zixin He started by using popular and widely available plastic stools, chairs, and lighting fixtures as molds for the mycelium to grow on coffee grounds and rice husks.
Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients such as cellulose and lignin, which favor mycelium growth while allowing food waste to be turned into functional objects. Additionally, the process recycles waste and absorbs carbon, reducing atmospheric CO2 levels.
Breaking from industrial waste
Every mold infused with the biological material transforms into a unique and organic form, shaped by the growth patterns of mycelium, breaking away from standard industrial molds and plastic.
“The project breaks the visual monotony of mass-produced items in regions like Guangdong, China. Ubiquitous red plastic furniture symbolizes the industrial era, reflecting societal transformation and aesthetic habits,” NONGZAO told Designboom.
Re-understanding materials
NONGZAO’s work showcases a potential solution to replace plastic by leveraging the incredible versatility of mycelium. In fact, multiple startups and companies are using it as an innovative and biodegradable alternative to plastic, leather, and petrochemical-derived materials.
The UK’s Biohm creates regenerative construction materials and packaging by growing mycelium into food waste while the US-based mycelium specialist Ecovative focuses on developing alternatives to plastic and solutions for packaging and construction materials.
The use of plastic has led to significant environmental challenges. Over 430 million tons are produced annually, much of it ending up in the world’s landfills and oceans. You can watch NONGZAO’s proposal for its CONSUMER project in this video.
The unlimited potential of mycelium
A recent report highlighted mycelium leather as a strong contender, offering a durable, eco-friendly solution to cow hides. Bolt Threads, which this week floated on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol “BSLK,” and MycoWorks, which recently introduced its mushroom material in the new EV CADILLAC, are among the companies producing mycelium leather at scale.
“Using the most common plastic products as symbols of value transmission, giving them new materials, re-understanding and imprinting what was previously taken for granted, and constructing new relationships.
“The uniform plastic products grow into mycelium products with different surface textures and forms, nurturing individuality in the commonality of industrial civilization, presenting new aesthetic values in the display and spreading the sustainable values of bio-economy,” NONGZAO says on YouTube.
