Mycelium-based materials are composites in which the thread-like network of a fungus binds agricultural or forestry residues into a light solid. The fungus grows in a mould, then is dried or heated so that it stops growing. It is among the youngest materials we profile: a few products are on sale, many headline applications are prototypes, and several well-funded ventures have stalled.
This guide separates what you can buy from what research has demonstrated, and flags where the usual claims need a caveat.
How mature are mycelium materials, and what can you buy today?
On sale today
Acoustic wall and ceiling panels: Mogu (Italy) publishes a 2026 datasheet for its Wave, Kite, Fields and Aspen/Foresta models.[1] Protective packaging: the Magical Mushroom Company (UK) says it has produced millions of units since 2020, a company claim.[10] Ecovative (US), a mycelium technology developer, lists Mushroom® Packaging (launched 2010) under earlier work on its homepage and points to licensing; its older FAQ describes licensing that technology as its focus.[11]
Demonstrated, not yet a product
Insulation boards are the clearest gap. An EU-funded project that began in July 2026 states that there are no commercial-scale or automated production lines for mycelium insulation and that this blocks adoption. It plans automation to cut production cost and certified testing of thermal performance, fire safety and durability.[8] A 2025 review likewise notes that most experimental work is still laboratory-scale.[3] Ecovative's FAQ lists mushroom insulation, building materials and panels as not commercially available.[11]
Mycelium leather: a stalled category
Bolt Threads paused its Mylo leather alternative in 2023 after failing to secure financing to scale up.[12] Trade press reports that MycoWorks, maker of Reishi, became insolvent in late 2025 and that its assets were later acquired by investment firm DFX Corp.[13] Ecovative describes its Forager textile as still in development.[11] Mogu's sister brand Ephea debuted at Balenciaga's autumn/winter 2022 show.[9] We have not verified durability or abrasion data for any mycelium leather.
What are the technical properties of mycelium composites?
There is no single set of properties. A 2025 review found densities from 25 to 954 kg/m³ and compressive strengths from 0.03 to 4.44 MPa; the same fungus reached 1.02 MPa on sawdust but 0.07 MPa on straw.[2] Treat any number as one product's result.
Thermal performance
A 2025 review reports thermal conductivity of 0.036–0.06 W/(m·K).[3] In a Latvian laboratory study the best result was a hemp-based composite at 0.040 W/(m·K).[4] The one commercial datasheet we found, Mogu Acoustic, declares 0.050 W/(m·K) at 40 mm and 120 kg/m³, and the product is sold as an acoustic panel, not as insulation.[1] We found no certified mycelium insulation board.
Acoustic performance
Mogu's datasheet gives a weighted sound absorption αw of 0.30–0.35 for Wave, Kite and Fields mounted directly (0.30, 0.30, 0.35) and 0.45–0.50 with an insulation layer behind (0.50, 0.45, 0.50), measured to ISO 354 and rated to ISO 11654; it gives no αw for Aspen/Foresta.[1] That is moderate, so check αw against your requirement.
Fire
"Fireproof" is not accurate. Mogu Acoustic is B-s2-d0 with the finish its datasheet labels "Fire-Proof" (a classification, not fireproofing) and D-s2-d0 with the standard coloured finish.[1] In cone-calorimeter tests, which are not Euroclass tests, lab-made mycelium boards showed peak heat release of 134–243 kW/m² and total smoke release of 7–281 m²/m².[4] Reviews attribute the lower flammability to charring,[3] but these are not a classification for your build-up.
Strength
Mogu Acoustic lists compression strength of 10.72 kPa (EN 826) and flexural strength of 0.05 MPa.[1] A review concludes that foam-like mechanics and high water absorption limit mycelium to non-structural or semi-structural roles such as insulation, panelling and furniture.[2]
Is mycelium really sustainable, carbon negative or compostable?
Carbon
A laboratory-scale life cycle assessment modelled for Germany reports 0.3668 kg CO₂e per kg of hemp-based composite, counting production only (use and end of life are not assessed), with land use and water demand higher than for conventional materials.[5] A review cites one study reporting net-negative embodied carbon (−39.5 kg CO₂e/m³) from biogenic carbon storage. It also reports that other studies find lower emissions than petroleum-based foam but not lower than mineral wool in most categories, with manufacturing electricity the main hotspot.[3] "Carbon negative" is therefore one study's result, not a property of the material. The LCA names hemp substrate cultivation as a significant contributor;[5] see our hemp profile.
Compostable?
Reviews list compostability as a property of the material.[3] A finished product also carries finishes and binders: Mogu's panels use water-based paints.[1] The Magical Mushroom Company says its packaging biodegrades in around 45 days in the right conditions, a company claim.[10] Ask for a compost certificate for the exact product.
"Grown, not made" and "cheap"
Production is a controlled process: sterilised substrate, controlled incubation, then drying that deactivates the fungus.[3] On cost, a review says precise comparisons with traditional materials remain challenging,[2] and the EU project above aims to cut production cost through automation.[8] We have no verified list prices.
What are the limits: moisture, durability, standards and scale?
Moisture and deactivation
Mycelium composites are highly hygroscopic. Growth is halted by drying to a moisture level low enough to prevent fungal regrowth,[2] and reviews flag moisture sensitivity as a threat to durability.[3] Assume dry interior conditions unless a manufacturer documents otherwise.
Durability
A 2025 review lists weathering susceptibility and a limited lifespan of under 50 years among the open challenges,[2] and another names durability under real-world conditions as a key open challenge.[3]
Standards and certification
Reviews report a lack of standardised manufacturing and testing methods.[2] Researchers borrow test methods from ASTM, ISO, JIS, EN and other bodies, and say production needs good manufacturing practices.[7] We found no harmonised European product standard or European Technical Assessment for mycelium insulation. In practice you rely on manufacturer test reports.
Scale and consistency
Industrial-scale production methods are still under development, and proprietary processes held by companies such as Ecovative limit open research.[3] Mogu notes dimensional variation of up to ±0.4 cm.[1]
What is mycelium used for?
Acoustic panels
Best for: interior designers · architects
The most mature building-related product. Mogu's panels are soft and fibrous, finished in water-based paint in any NCS colour.[1] They are positioned for interior walls and ceilings. For another natural acoustic finish, see our cork profile.
Protective packaging
Best for: product designers · brands
Moulded inserts grown from mycelium and agricultural by-products, offered instead of expanded polystyrene. The Magical Mushroom Company names customers including Tom Dixon and Raymarine.[10] Whether it "replaces plastic" depends on the protection your product needs.
Insulation
Best for: architects · building envelope (future)
Lab results are encouraging, with λ as low as 0.040 W/(m·K) in one study, but there is no verified commercial board with a fire classification, EPD or technical assessment yet.[4][8] Treat it as research, not a specification option.
Furniture, lighting and objects
Best for: product & industrial designers
Designers have moulded mycelium into stools, lights and architecture. Sebastian Cox and Ninela Ivanova grew stools and pendant lights from willow wood waste in 2017,[15] and The Living's Hy-Fi tower at MoMA PS1 (2014) used 10,000 mycelium bricks,[21] grown with Ecovative and, per ArchDaily, due to be composted after the summer.[14] Both are demonstrations, not long-term performance records.
Why mycelium matters for product and industrial designers
Product designers are the audience for whom mycelium is most usable now. It grows to near-net shape in a mould, which suits objects, inserts and panels, and its soft, fibred surface differs from foam or board.
What you can specify today
From Mogu: standard panel formats, any NCS colour, and a documented fire class per finish.[1] From packaging makers: custom moulded inserts, with biodegradation claims you should verify.[10]
Questions to ask any supplier
Which finish does the fire class apply to? What moisture exposure was tested? How much do batches vary in size and density? Is there a compost or end-of-life certificate for this exact product? What are the minimum order quantities and lead times?
Design around the weak points
Keep it dry, non-structural and indoors unless proven otherwise, and choose the finish with the fire class in mind. For Mogu, the coloured finish is D-s2-d0 and the one labelled "Fire-Proof" is B-s2-d0.[1]
Mycelium in use: projects
Growing Matter(s) Pavilion
Henning Larsen with Politecnico di Milano · Milan, Italy · 2025 · installation at Milan Design Week
The pavilion is made of 80 mycelium spheres, each shaped by the material's natural growth.[16][17] ArchDaily credits Spore.nl as manufacturer.[16]
Homegrown Wonderland
Andre Kong Studio with Arup · New York Botanical Garden, USA · on display until 27 October 2024 · temporary installation
The pavilion has walls made from full-size mycelium bricks beside a scaled-down timber cottage. Ecovative produced the mycelium. After dismantling, the bricks were to be composted and the timber reused.[18]
Âpé Yakitori Bar
Prevalent · Newcastle, NSW, Australia · 2022 · commended at the 2023 Newcastle Architecture Awards
Mogu mycelium acoustic panels were installed to manage acoustics against a raw concrete shell. The project received a commendation for interior architecture at the Newcastle Architecture Awards 2023, as listed in the Australian Institute of Architects' awards booklet.[19][20][22][24]
Where to buy mycelium materials
Manufacturers selected by our editors. Entries are checked against the company's own product pages and datasheets.
| Supplier | Products | Country | Certifications and availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mogu | Acoustic panels (Wave, Kite, Fields, Foresta), Pluma wall-covering panels; also bio-based resilient floor tiles and rolls (not described as mycelium-based on its site) | Italy | Acoustic datasheet: B-s2-d0 ("Fire-Proof" finish), D-s2-d0 (coloured), Indoor Air Comfort Gold (manufacturer-stated; not found on Eurofins' public Gold list); no EPD found.[1][23] Sold in Europe through local representatives, including Italy, UK, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.[6][9] |
| Magical Mushroom Company | Moulded protective packaging | United Kingdom | Site states BSI ISO 9001 accreditation (quality management, not a product certificate); no compost certificate listed, and biodegradation is a company claim. Ecovative's FAQ lists it as a UK/EU packaging licensee; EU delivery terms are not stated on its site.[10][11] |
| Ecovative | Licensor of Mushroom® Packaging technology; Forager textile in development | United States | Licensing rather than direct building-product sales; no certificate verified.[11][3] |
Certificates are summarised from manufacturer datasheets and trade press; confirm on the certifier's registry before specifying. Listing policy: editorial selection, not paid.
Frequently asked questions about mycelium materials
What are mycelium-based materials?
They are composites in which fungal mycelium grows through agricultural or forestry residues and binds them together. The material is then dried or heated to stop growth. Properties depend heavily on the fungus, substrate and process, so values differ between products.
Can I buy mycelium acoustic panels or insulation today?
Acoustic panels, yes: Mogu in Italy publishes a 2026 datasheet and sells in Europe through representatives. Insulation, not yet: an EU project begun in 2026 states there are no commercial-scale or automated production lines, and we found no certified mycelium insulation board.
What is the thermal conductivity of mycelium?
A 2025 review reports 0.036–0.06 W/(m·K). Mogu Acoustic declares 0.050 W/(m·K) at 40 mm and 120 kg/m³. Values vary with substrate and process, so use the product's own datasheet.
Is mycelium fireproof?
No. Mogu Acoustic is Euroclass B-s2-d0 with the finish its datasheet labels "Fire-Proof" and D-s2-d0 with the standard coloured finish. Laboratory cone-calorimeter results are favourable but are not a classification.
Is mycelium carbon negative?
Not as a general rule. One study reviewed reports net-negative embodied carbon, while a laboratory-scale, cradle-to-gate LCA for Germany reports 0.3668 kg CO₂e per kg, and we found no verified EPD for a mycelium product.
Does mycelium regrow or rot in a building?
The fungus is deactivated by drying, and growth is prevented by keeping moisture low. The material is highly hygroscopic and reviews flag moisture sensitivity, so use it dry and indoors unless a manufacturer documents otherwise.
Is mycelium leather available?
Largely not at scale. Bolt Threads paused Mylo in 2023, MycoWorks was reported insolvent in late 2025, and Ecovative describes its Forager textile as still in development.
The bottom line on mycelium
Mycelium is credible for acoustic panels and packaging, and promising but unproven for insulation and structure. Specify it product by product: ask for the datasheet, the fire class for your finish, the moisture exposure tested and an EPD, and expect "not yet" on the EPD. For designers working within a dry, indoor, non-structural brief, it offers a new texture and production logic. For everything else, watch the standards and the pilot plants.
Related materials
Sources
- Mogu, "Technical Data Sheet 2026: Acoustic mycelium-based products", issued and reviewed March 2026. Density, λ (EN 12664-2), fire classes (EN 13501-1), compression, flexural strength, dimensional variation (EN 1604), TVOC, αw and tolerance. Manufacturer data, not independently verified. Read in full; the αw values and the fire-class columns were checked against the page layout. Datasheet (PDF)
- Parhizi, Z., Dearnaley, J., Kauter, K., Mikkelsen, D., Pal, P., Shelley, T. & Burey, P. (2025). "The Fungus Among Us: Innovations and Applications of Mycelium-Based Composites." Journal of Fungi 11(8). Review: density, compressive strength, water absorption, moisture before and after deactivation, limited lifespan, standardisation and cost statements. doi:10.3390/jof11080549
- Motamedi, S., Rousse, D.R. & Promis, G. (2025). "A Review of Mycelium Bio-Composites as Energy-Efficient Sustainable Building Materials." Energies 18(16):4225. Review (full text read): λ range, fabrication protocol, LCA comparisons, fire, scale and proprietary-process limits. doi:10.3390/en18164225
- Irbe, I., Kirpluks, M., Kampuss, M., Andze, L., Milbreta, U. & Filipova, I. (2024). "Assessing the Conformity of Mycelium Biocomposites for Ecological Insulation Solutions." Materials 17(24):6111. Laboratory study; cone-calorimeter data at 35 kW/m², not an Euroclass classification. doi:10.3390/ma17246111
- Volk, R., Schröter, M., Saeidi, N., Steffl, S., Javadian, A., Hebel, D.E. & Schultmann, F. (2024). "Life cycle assessment of mycelium-based composite materials." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 205:107579. Laboratory-scale production of hemp-based composite modelled for Germany; functional unit 1 kg; cradle-to-gate (use and end of life neglected); 0.3668 kg CO₂e/kg (EN 15804+A2); land-use and water demand higher than for conventional materials. Abstract, highlights and methods section read on ScienceDirect. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107579
- Mogu website: product overview and "International Representatives" page (Italy, UK, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, United States and others). Company information. mogu.bio/international-representatives · mogu.bio
- Aiduang, W., Jinanukul, P., Thamjaree, W., Kiatsiriroat, T., Waroonkun, T. & Lumyong, S. (2024). "A Comprehensive Review on Studying and Developing Guidelines to Standardize the Inspection of Properties and Production Methods for Mycelium-Bound Composites in Bio-Based Building Material Applications." Biomimetics 9(9). Abstract read. doi:10.3390/biomimetics9090549
- European Commission CORDIS, project MYCO AI-LINE (grant agreement 101310357), Horizon Europe, 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2028. Project's own statement on the absence of commercial-scale and automated production lines, and its plans for automation (cost) and certified testing. A project description, not independent evidence. cordis.europa.eu
- FashionUnited, 9 January 2024, "Biotech company Mogu raises 11 million euros in funding". Mogu/Sqim based in Inarzo, Italy; Ephea debuted at Balenciaga autumn/winter 2022. fashionunited.uk
- The Magical Mushroom Company, company website (Beeston, Nottingham, UK): Mushroom® Packaging, customers (including Tom Dixon and Raymarine), "millions of units" since 2020, biodegradation in around 45 days, BSI ISO 9001 accreditation. Company claims. magicalmushroom.com
- Ecovative, company homepage and FAQ: licensing of Mushroom® Packaging, Forager in development, items listed as not commercially available (the FAQ text is older than the homepage). Company statements. ecovative.com · shop.ecovative.com/pages/faqs
- FashionUnited, 4 July 2023, "Bolt Threads reportedly pulls plug on Stella McCartney-backed Mylo" (reporting Vogue Business). Production paused after failing to secure financing. fashionunited.uk
- International Leather Maker, 20 April 2026, "MycoWorks restructures after insolvency". Only the introduction was readable (subscriber article): insolvency in late 2025, assets subsequently acquired by investment firm DFX Corp. internationalleathermaker.com
- ArchDaily, "Hy-Fi, The Organic Mushroom-Brick Tower Opens At MoMA's PS1 Courtyard" (2014). The Living / David Benjamin, MoMA PS1 Young Architects Program, bricks grown with Ecovative, composted after the summer. archdaily.com
- Gessato, "Eco Furniture With A Twist – The Mycelium + Timber Project" (26 September 2017). Sebastian Cox and Ninela Ivanova; stools and pendant lights from mycelium and discarded willow wood. gessato.com
- ArchDaily, "Growing Matter(s) Pavilion / Henning Larsen" (2025): architect, location, year, 80 spheres, Spore.nl credited as manufacturer. Trade press republishing the architects' text. www.archdaily.com
- Henning Larsen, "Growing Matter(s)" project page: collaboration with Politecnico di Milano, 80 spheres, debut at Milan Design Week; the page dates the project 2024–2025. Architect's page. henninglarsen.com
- Designboom, 9 September 2024, "Mycelium brick pavilion by Andre Kong Studio at New York Botanical Garden": designer, engineer, producer, walls and end-of-life plan. Single independent source. www.designboom.com
- Architecture Australia, "Products in practice: Prevalent founder Ben Berwick's love of Mogu mycelium": architect, city, product and use. Independent trade magazine. architectureau.com
- Mogu, "Âpé Yakitori Bar" project page and "Newcastle Architecture Award 2023" page: product (Natural Plain Acoustic Panels) and the commendation for interior architecture. Manufacturer pages; the commendation is confirmed independently in [24]. mogu.bio/project · mogu.bio/award
- Arup, "Hy-Fi reinvents the brick": the final structure comprises 10,000 organically grown bricks. arup.com
- ArchDaily, "Ape Yakitori Bar / Prevalent" (29 December 2022): architect Prevalent, year 2022, Newcastle. archdaily.com
- Registry searches made on 8 October 2026. (a) Eurofins, "Indoor Air Comfort Gold: list of certified products": 24 entries in four categories (resilient flooring, non-wooden panels, interior paints and varnishes), none by Mogu; eurofins.com/iac-certified. (b) EOTA register of European Technical Assessments (about 8,800 entries): no entry for mycelium, mushroom or Mogu products; eota.eu/etassessments. (c) EPD International library and EPD Hub: no entry for a mycelium product (EPD Hub search for "mycelium": 0 of 7,250 EPDs). The IBU, EPD Norge and INIES registers were not searched.
- Australian Institute of Architects, Newcastle Architecture Awards 2023 booklet: "Commendation for Interior Architecture, Âpé Yakitori Bar by Prevalent"; results also published by Architecture Australia, "2023 Newcastle Architecture Awards", 21 November 2022. awards booklet (PDF) · architectureau.com