Fungi Could Solve Our Plastic Problem—Starting With Nappies

Nature’s original engineers are being explored as scientists unveil the environmental potential of fungi. The Hiro diaper, a baby nappy with a freeze-dried fungi sachet, aims to catalyse the breakdown of the entire diaper including plastics into compost within a year. Recognised by the Future is Fungi Awards, these innovations showcase mycelium’s ability to build sustainable materials and digest complex molecules, including plastics and petroleum-like compounds. This dual capability makes fungi versatile—from developing building materials and biodegradable foams to cleaning contaminated sites and acting as biological factories to synthesize chemicals. Self-composting nappies illustrate a broader truth: everyday solutions may already be woven into the quest for a circular economy. Original publisher: Future.

Overview

The article highlights how fungi, especially the mycelial networks that form their core, are being positioned as environmental problem-solvers. Fungal systems can be grown into new materials using agricultural waste and can secrete enzymes that metabolize wood, plastics and other hydrocarbons. The Future is Fungi Awards recognises projects that leverage these capabilities to address urgent ecological challenges.

"This dual ability — building structures and digesting complex molecules — make fungi unusually versatile." - Future is Fungi Awards

From Nappies to Material Science

A standout example is Hiro, a diaper that includes a sachet of freeze-dried fungi intended to catalyse the breakdown of the diaper, plastics included, into compost within about a year. This illustrates a practical application of mycelium-based biodegradation, turning a common waste stream into a potential feedstock for composting rather than landfill.

The discussion underscores mycelium’s broader potential: it can be grown into strong, lightweight materials, used to create biodegradable foams, and serve as a bio-factory for synthesising chemicals. In other words, fungi can be both builders and cleaners, offering a versatile toolkit for sustainable design and remediation.

Implications for Sustainability

Self-composting nappies are framed as a small but meaningful step toward a larger objective: integrating biological systems into waste management, product design and environmental cleanup. The underlying message is that solutions to human-made problems may be closer than we think, potentially emerging from the natural processes of fungi that operate quietly beneath everyday life.

"Mycelium can be grown into building materials, turned into biodegradable foams, used to clean up contaminated environments, or harnessed as biological factories to synthesise chemicals." - Future is Fungi Awards