Interiors solutions provider Antolin has been working on a project that employs mycelium-based natural materials to help reduce the environmental impact of vehicle components.
Mycelium is the vegetative part of fungi and it is found naturally in terrestrial ecosystems. It can bind with vegetable residues, which Antolin has used to develop a structural material for the production of automotive components.
The company states that this form of sustainable production is carbon neutral, because the material development occurs organically in the mould, compared to the traditional plastic injection process – reducing the use of plastic in automotive parts.
By researching these types of solutions, the goal is to minimize carbon footprints, using 100% biodegradable products at the end of their life cycle, compared to non-biodegradable products that can end up in oceans and rivers.
Antolin hopes to introduce fully sustainable materials, structures and processes into its vehicle programs in the future.
