organic / Fungi-Based / Panel

Mycelium-Based Panels (experimental) (50mm, 75mm, 100mm)

Sustainable bio-composite insulation panels grown from fungal mycelium on agricultural waste substrates, offering low embodied carbon, inherent fire resistance, and thermal performance comparable to conventional insulation materials.

Atlas code
ORG-FUN-PNL-001
organicfungi-basedsustainableinsulationfire-resistantbiodegradablecarbon-negative
Mycelium-Based Panels (experimental) (50mm, 75mm, 100mm)
At-a-glance signals

Sustainable bio-composite insulation panels grown from fungal mycelium on agricultural waste substrates, offering low embodied carbon, inherent fire resistance, and thermal performance comparable to conventional insulation materials.

Overview
Executive summary

Mycelium-based panels are innovative construction materials created through controlled growth of fungal networks on organic substrates. The mycelium acts as a natural binder, creating lightweight, thermally insulating panels with inherent fire-resistant properties. Available in 50mm, 75mm, and 100mm thicknesses for various insulation applications.

Best when…
  • Carbon-negative material (sequesters CO₂ during growth)
  • Biodegradable at end of life
  • Low thermal conductivity (0.04-0.06 W/m·K)
  • Inherent fire resistance through char formation
  • VOC-free and non-toxic
  • Grown from agricultural waste
  • Lightweight (100-200 kg/m³)
  • Good acoustic absorption (75% at 1000Hz)
  • Can be moulded into complex shapes
Top advantages
  1. 01 Carbon-negative material (sequesters CO₂ during growth)
  2. 02 Biodegradable at end of life
  3. 03 Low thermal conductivity (0.04-0.06 W/m·K)
  4. 04 Inherent fire resistance through char formation
  5. 05 VOC-free and non-toxic
Top limitations
  1. 01 High water absorption without treatment
  2. 02 Limited mechanical strength for structural applications
  3. 03 No established Australian Standards
  4. 04 Production time of 10-20 days
  5. 05 Requires controlled growth conditions
Technical
Physical ·9
Density
100 kg/m³
Specific gravity
0.1
Porosity
93 %
Water absorption
250 %
Hardness
15
UV resistance
Poor scale 2/5, poor without protection
Chemical resistance
Moderate scale 3/5, moderate
pH tolerance
5-9
Surface roughness
500 μm rough natural texture
Mechanical ·7
Tensile strength
0.2 MPa
Compressive strength
0.06 MPa
Flexural strength
0.3 MPa
Shear strength
0.15 MPa
Poisson's ratio
0.25
Impact resistance
32 kJ/m³ energy absorption
Creep resistance
Limited scale 2/5, limited data
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
Embodied carbon
0.37
Carbon footprint
-150
Embodied energy
7.7 MJ/kg
Water footprint
50 L/kg
Recycled content
85 %
Renewable content
100 %
Circular score
9 scale 9/10, excellent
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·5
Combustibility class
B estimated Euroclass
Ignition temp
250 °C
Flame spread index
25
Smoke dev. index
50
Heat release rate
65
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
Material cost (range)
150-300 AUD/m³
Material cost (per unit)
200 AUD/m³ current experimental pricing
Lead time
21 days includes growth period
Lifecycle cost
350 AUD/m³ over 20 years
Annual maintenance
0 AUD/m²/year no maintenance required
Market availability
Limited scale 2/5
Service life & durability ·2
Expected lifespan
20 years estimated
Maintenance interval
60 months visual inspection
Layer D

Where it's used

Thermal insulation for walls and roofs
Acoustic insulation panels
Non-structural interior wall panels
Temporary construction elements
Packaging and cushioning materials
Fire-resistant cladding cores
Furniture and design elements
ORG-FUN-PNL-001 · Materials Atlas · CLAD Atlas data is reference-only. Verify against manufacturer specifications and current standards before specifying.