Enzymatic upcycling of textile waste into biodegradable mycelium leather

The aim of the project is to develop a new, biologically based, efficient fabrication process for bio-based textiles.


The aim of the project is to develop enzymes that are capable of degrading waste textiles (e.g., cotton, PET, Nylon etc) into a low-cost substrate for the production of mycelium leather.

The project will focus on trying to discover new enzymes from areas in which textile waste accumulates and help to deal with the huge problem of textile waste with 73 % of textile waste currently sent to landfill or incinerated.

Mycelium leather is important as it is a replacement for leather from hides and skin. With leather production having a huge environmental impact using precious natural resources, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and the release of hazardous chemicals into waste water.

The project is important and exciting as it is taking waste and using it as a feedstock to produce a new material.