In an era of tightening ESG requirements and the threat of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), it is no longer enough to just talk about sustainability. It needs to be backed up by hard data. Our recent Emission Audit (conducted according to GHG Protocol, Corporate and Product Standards) has revealed figures that are changing the perspective on packaging and insulation materials. If you are striving for real decarbonization and want to avoid “greenwashing,” it’s time to get to know a material that actively sequesters carbon – mycelium.
Quantifying Sustainability: -1.305 kg CO2e vs. +5.20 kg CO2e
The audit confirmed that Myco’s mycelium achieves a cradle-to-gate (from raw material extraction to product dispatch) negative carbon footprint: -1.305 kg CO2e/kg of product. This result is driven by a combination of two key factors:
- Low energy intensity: Mycelium production is characterized by low emissions (Scope 1 and 2).
- Sequestered biogenic carbon: Mycelium, the vegetative part of a fungus, grows on lignocellulosic substrates (agricultural residues) and thus actively sequesters biogenic carbon. This process captures 1.835 kg of CO2 per kilogram of dry mass, which makes the overall balance negative.
When compared with the conventional synthetic materials that mycelium replaces (especially foam plastics like EPS and PUR), the differences are dramatic, as these materials are of fossil origin and do not sequester biogenic carbon:
| Material | Carbon Footprint | Difference Compared to Mycelium |
|---|---|---|
| Mycelium | –1,305 kg CO2e / kg | – |
| Polystyrene (PS) | +3,68 kg CO2e/kg | +5,00 kg CO2e |
| Polyurethane (PUR) | +5,20 kg CO2e/kg | +6,51 kg CO2e |
By switching to mycelium, you can reduce your product’s carbon footprint by up to 6.5 kg CO2e/kg.
Emission Audit as a Strategic Advantage for ESG and Compliance
Choosing a material with a demonstrably negative footprint is currently the most powerful
decarbonization lever and a key point for your ESG reporting. Moreover, mycelium opens the door to a solution that is also robust from the perspective of European regulations:
- EU Taxonomy and PPWR: An expert opinion demonstrates that mycelium meets all the requirements of the PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) for use in packaging and is in line with the EU Taxonomy for sustainable plastic packaging and construction products.
- Business Potential and Plastics Regulation: From a business perspective, the material is advantageous as it does not fall under current plastics regulations.
- Recycling (Closing the Loop): The audit also examined end-of-life (EoL) scenarios.
- Recycling with paper: According to tests, mycelium is fully recyclable within paper waste streams. This solution is the most valuable from a circular economy perspective and, with the inclusion of credits, further reduces the carbon footprint to -1.675 kg CO2e/kg.
- Composting: Although mycelium is biodegradable, the sequestered biogenic CO2 is released during decomposition, which cancels out the negative balance and worsens the footprint to +0.53 kg CO2e/kg. Therefore, recycling is the preferred EoL solution.
Key Documents for Your R&D and Compliance
Don’t let looming regulations and the growing demand for sustainability catch you by surprise. Review the data that will provide you with strategic certainty and gain a competitive advantage through a verified, low-emission technology:
- The 2024 Emission Audit for the company Myco and its mycelium product – A detailed quantification of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and the calculation of the negative carbon footprint.
- Expert Opinion: Characteristics of Mycelium as a Material – A professional assessment of its compliance with the PPWR, the EU Taxonomy, and its recyclability within paper waste streams.
- Comparison of End-of-Life (EoL) Scenarios and their Impact on the Carbon Footprint – An analysis of recycling, composting, and landfilling.
Contact us for a no-obligation consultation and turn your packaging or insulation material from an emissions problem into a competitive advantage with a demonstrably negative carbon footprint.