Sustainable Plate Made of Mycelium and Hemp

A plate made of mycelium and hemp is created in a sustainable way in Budapest by the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) in cooperation with the Michelin-starred Salt restaurant. The new plate has been created in the course of their joint research on the way to a circular dining culture, which can be used without any environmental impact, the institution informed MTI on Wednesday.

They point out that the durable serving utensil, which can be used in premium restaurants, retains its shape thanks to its components, its strength allows for repeated use and leaves no waste.

The Materials Research Hub of the University's Innovation Center has been exploring alternative uses for micellar for many years, and this is the first time that the public has been able to see this innovation in the field of materials research and applied design in the field of gastronomy," the statement said.

MOME recalls in its press release that the mycelium bio composite is produced by growing microorganisms instead of using traditional manufacturing technologies. The alternative materials can be used to replace various plastics from packaging to architecture, with the lightweight, porous but fire-resistant material being positioned between Styrofoam and cork. Depending on the species of fungi used, it can have different properties, being harder or softer, and its absorbency can vary.

Mihály Minkó, a researcher at the Innovation Center, points out in the press release that the rise of bio composite materials is inevitable in the face of environmentally harmful materials. These materials are still largely in the experimental phase, but some of them, such as mycelium-based bio composites, are already in industrial use. Szilárd Tóth, chef at Salt restaurant, said in the statement that sustainable design is an important part of SALT's philosophy.

In the statement, MOME CEO Réka Matheidesz stresses that design is never about the object, but about the person, and what is really important is the crossover and cooperation between different genres and disciplines. He adds that this is what the Salt and MOME project is all about, bringing the idea of sustainability closer to people in a tangible and experiential way.