The problem of plastic waste is often discussed, both by us, ordinary people, and by the greatest researchers. Our mind will be empty when it comes to new ideas, but the researchers' mind is full, maybe TOO full!
So I'm telling you that a device was invented that transforms plastic waste into an edible product. The process itself is due to strains of fungi that digest the plastic ingredients, but do not accumulate toxic substances.
Fungi Mutarium, the device in question was created after many years of long research and hours of experiments. Now, however, an Austrian designer, Unger by name, together with a team of microbiological inventors are working intensively to discover more types of fungi, which can be used to make the decomposition process more efficient.
The device is equipped with several small white cups, which are made of agar-agar (seaweed gelatin), starch and sugar, but also thin slices of plastic waste that have been sterilized with UV light. The mycelia of oyster mushroom si Schizophyllum commune (rare mushrooms from the Amazon area on which tests were done) are allowed to actually fall into those cups and, as they grow, they feed on plastic waste and nutrients from the walls of the cups.
"In just a few weeks, fungi begins to grow out of the pods, using the plastic to feed its development,"
"After several months, the plastic will be completely decomposed and you're left with nothing but an agar cup filled with edible fluffy white mycelium."
– researcher Fiona MacDonald.
According to a report carried out last year, it was estimated that, in the next 35 years, the number of fish in the world's oceans will be exceeded by plastic waste, and by 2050, we will be able to produce 4 times more plastic than before in 2015.
