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How Ecovative are You?: Mushroom Materials Lab

How Ecovative are You?: Mushroom Materials Lab
Contributors
Mollie Enright
Beyond Benign, Inc.
Annette Sebuyira
Retired K-12 Educator | Beyond Benign, Inc.
Janie Butler
Fostering Learners + Leaders in Sustainable STEM | Science Done Sustainably
Beyond Benign
Beyond Benign, Inc.
Learning Objets
Summary
Styrofoam is a popular packaging material that is non-biodegradable and takes centuries to decompose. Ecovative has developed a mushroom-based alternative that can be customized to any shape and used for packaging and insulation. Iron concentration in the mixture prevents the growth of spores, making it safe for industrial use. The project can be completed in 7 to 12 days and is split into three segments: Research Cradle-to-Cradle, Mushroom Materials Design, and Materials Testing. Resources include a TED Talk by Eben Bayer titled “Are Mushrooms the New Plastic?” http://www.ted.com/talks/eben_bayer_are_mushrooms_the_new_plastic?language=en

Depending on how much time you allow, this could either be done throughout a semester or completed in the lab in just 7 to 12 days.
Keyword Tags
Cradle-to-Cradle
Degradation
Polymers
Material Property
File (PDF, PPT, image, etc)
mushroom_material_ecovative_industry.docx
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.59877/EFYM4716
Learning Goals/Student Objectives
Learning Objectives:
Students will…
• Research “cradle-to-cradle” sustainability
• Design a process/product that adheres to green chemistry principles
• Learn about degradation, polymers, material properties, and engineering design criteria
Object Type
Laboratory experiment
Audience
High School (Secondary School)
Common pedagogies covered
Hands-on learning
Green Chemistry Principles
Waste Prevention
Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses
Design for Energy Efficiency
Use of Renewable Feedstocks
Design for Degradation
Safety Precautions, Hazards, and Risk Assessment
Ecovative material, when handled properly, is safe. The material is not for human consumption and when dry, may irritate airways if directly inhaled. Do not use flour in the mixture with individuals who have gluten allergies. Wear gloves and wash hands after use. Refer to the manufacturer safety data sheet (SDS) here: https://grow.bio/pages/msds
NGSS Standards, if applicable
• HS-ETS1-1: Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
• HS-ETS1-3: Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.

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Submitted by

Rhianna Kozinski
Published on
Moderation state
Published
Time required (if applicable)
7-12 x 45-60 minute class periods
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.