The Netherlands produces tens of thousands of kilos of oyster mushrooms each week. These mushrooms are grown on straw or coffee grounds mixed with mycelium and packed in disposable plastic bags. This creates a large, ongoing stream of plastic waste.
Many growers want to become more sustainable, but reducing plastic use remains a major challenge.
A compostable, non-fossil-based plastic could be a good solution, but most bioplastics don't meet technical requirements.
Since 2021, I've working on finding a compostable alternative with my project PSBR | Paddenstoelenboer. Recently, I partnered with Stripe Blue and together we're testing a promising new material.
This potato-starch-based bioplastic shows the right properties for cultivation and is fully certified compostable.
In our first trial, the oyster mushrooms grew beautifully on it. A practical test with ZuiderZwam is coming up to evaluate the material in a real farm setting.
