Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) have developed an eco-friendly packaging material derived from agricultural waste, presenting it as a viable alternative to conventional plastic foams.

The innovation involves cultivating fungi such as Ganoderma lucidum—a mushroom with medicinal properties—and Pleurotus ostreatus, an edible variety, on substrates like paper and agricultural waste. By experimenting with combinations of fungal strains and substrates, the team created a composite material that proved to be sturdy and resilient.

Five substrates were tested: cardboard, sawdust, paper, cocopith, and hay. Among these, Ganoderma grown on cardboard exhibited a compressive strength greater than expanded polystyrene (EPS), a commonly used plastic foam, according to the researchers’ press release.

India generates over 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste annually, much of which is either burnt or discarded. This new material offers a sustainable use for such waste while helping reduce the nearly four million tonnes of plastic waste the country produces each year.

To commercialise the innovation, the team has founded a start-up called NatureWrks Technologies, incubated at IIT-M. The company plans to collaborate with industry partners, licence the technology, and seek government funding to accelerate product development and adoption.

The project is led by Lakshminath Kundanati, assistant professor in the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering. Team members include research scholars Sandra Rose Biby and Vivek Surendran. The findings were published in Bioresource Technology Reports in June.