Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed an agriculture waste-based packaging material, which can be a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic foams used in packaging. 

The researchers demonstrated that mycelium-based biocomposites grown on agricultural and paper waste provide quality in packaging while being biodegradable.

The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Bioresource Technology Reports, offer a practical solution to two major problems -- plastic pollution and agricultural waste disposal.