Interesting stats on EVs and energy use in the US, developments in wind and tidal power, a plastic recycling microfactory, and an "unprecedented collapse" in EU fossil fuel generation.
Biomaterials company MycoWorks has announced the opening of the world's first commercial-scale "Fine Mycelium" production plant making a premium leather alternative out of mushrooms.
The company says its new 136,000 square-foot factory will employ 350 people and produce millions of square feet of material for its luxury goods partners when it begins operating on September 20th.
It's not 100% clear from this article whether the factory is the first-ever commercial-scale plant making leather-alternative materials from mycelium OR if the press release is leaning heavily on the company's new proprietary category of, "Fine Mycelium," to create the impression that is. (Could be a bit of marketing razzle-dazzle here.)
Still, I would love to live in a future where more materials were made out of mushroom instead of animal products, so I hope that MycoWorks is successful in their efforts, provided that their mycelium-based leather alternative doesn't require more energy and resources to produce or cause more pollution than traditional leather does. (Because otherwise, what's the point of it?)
A new study suggests that switching to a reusable packaging paradigm can reduce greenhouse emissions from plastic by up to 69% – AND use up to 70% less water.
