At her workshop in Co Cork, Lavanya Bhandari is growing the future of packaging. Using mycelium – a fungal material that feeds on farm waste – she grows small containers in just a few days. Once fully formed, the material is heated to stop growth and to harden, “so you’re not going to get mushrooms growing out of your packaging”, explains Bhandari. Rather than rebuild the same business, he pivoted to an idea he’d been developing since 2020: using mycelium to process waste materials. He emphasises the need to be cost-competitive, noting that the carbon-negative process and lean production will help match conventional packaging prices.

Source: The Irish Times April 04, 2026 12:41 UTC