Eco-friendly Porcini Parcels made from mushrooms and agri waste, according to the young innovators Vadla Pranavi and Anupama Gambo, can reduce the use of plastic in everyday life by 50%. Another important aspect of Porcini Parcels is their low cost. Every day thermocol and bubble wraps, which are used to package your favourite crockery or fragile items, are non-biodegradable and can be found in the environment for years, clogging drains and the ocean.
Two female students from Hyderabad created packages out of mushrooms as an eco-friendly alternative to such materials. Mushrooms, indeed!
Vadla Pranavi and Anupama Gambo of St Ann’s College in Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad, developed ‘Porcini Parcels,’ packaging materials made from mushroom Mycelia and agricultural waste. The proposal was chosen as part of the Youth for Social Impact programme, which is a collaborative effort between the Telangana State Innovation Cell (TSIC), the Telangana Department of Higher Education, UNICEF India, Inqui-Lab Foundation, Y-Hub, and YuWaah.
Mycelium Bricks Are Fully Biodegradable
In an interview to News18, Pranavi said: “Our mycelium bricks are fully biodegradable within 40-50 days. Mycelium is a by-product of mushroom cultivation. Our product does not require water, light or chemicals to grow. After mixing mycelia and the agricultural waste, we heat it to a temperature of over 200 degrees Celsius. This takes away all moisture and kills all mycelia, making it a stable product.”
WeHub, India’s First State-led Incubator for Women Entrepreneurs
WeHub, India’s first state-led incubator for women entrepreneurs, is developing the product for large-scale production. Porcini Parcels are manufactured with no carbon footprint. Anupama described how she and Pranavi created their prototype, saying, “We made mycelium bricks 25*12 cm long and kept a 15 kg weighed calorimeter on them.” They were strong enough to withstand the weight. We packed a delicate tea cup and dropped it from six feet. After reaching the ground, the cup was discovered intact. “The bricks also reduce temperature by 2 to 6 degrees. As a result, they can also be used as house tiles.
According to the young innovators, eco-friendly Porcini Parcels can cut plastic usage in everyday life by half. Porcini Parcels can replace existing plastics such as thermocol, styrofoam, and bubble wraps, reducing global pollution.
