Researchers in Australia have discovered an innovative way to recycle discarded mattress foam using a common fungus, Penicillium chrysogenum. The fungus binds shredded polyurethane foam through its mycelium, creating a lightweight, heat-resistant material that performs nearly as well as commercial insulation, offering a sustainable alternative
Shredded mattress waste (left) The waste after treatment. PICS COURTESY/Swinburne University
Daily, thousands of used mattresses are simply thrown away around the globe. While the steel springs are easy enough to scrap, the bulky polyurethane foam often ends up in a permanent 120-year home in a landfill.
But a new study suggests a bizarrely organic solution to this synthetic nightmare: Penicillium chrysogenum — a common fungus. Researchers in Australia took the discarded foam, shredded it, and inoculated it with fungal spores.
As the fungi grew, their root-like structures, called mycelium, acted as a natural biological glue.
This biological bonding process creates lightweight natural mineral compounds capable of withstanding extreme heat up to 1000°C.
The material performed well as an insulator, with heat-blocking ability very close to commercial insulation products already used.
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