Fungi Potential Applications in Sustainable Packaging

Plastic-based materials are the most commonly used materials for packaging since ages ago. Due to the environmental concern, revolution has been made to substitute plastic materials with a more sustainable and eco-friendly material. The long-term negative health effects imparted to human from ingestion of microplastic have strengthened the need to change. Fungi is seen as a good alternative for petroleum-based plastic products in developing biocomposite for packaging. Three main stages involved for the development are (1) preparation of mycelia-treated substrate, (2) moulding and incubation of the mycelia, and (3) heat treatment and drying of the composites. This chapter starts with the discussion on the cultivation of fungi followed by elaboration on the critical factors influencing properties of fungi-based packaging. Properties and characterizations of fungi for packaging materials as well as the advantages and challenges in materializing the fungi-based packaging in the industries are also thoroughly discussed. The application of fungi for packaging is seen to have bright prospect in the future with its excellent properties, sustainable and environmental friendly.