In the Netherlands, Studio MOM has developed a 100% biodegradable bike helmet made from the root structure of fungus and hemp textiles.
Dubbed MyHelmet, the protective gear was designed by Alessandra Sisti, a junior designer at Studio MOM, as her graduation project from the Politecnico di Milano’s Design and Engineering masters program.
The helmet is a sustainable alternative to conventional bicycle helmets that use fossil-based polystyrene or expandable polystyrene. By heating the fungus during the growth process, Studio MOM was able to achieve similar rigidity and weight compared to PS and EPS, but with increased airflow to keep the noggin cool on hot days.
Tests designed to ensure the helmet meets Dutch technical standards have been “promising,” and the studio tells dezeen it is now looking for partners to move from prototype to commercial production. “By developing a new process, we have taken a considerable step towards using mycelium bio-manufacturing on an industrial scale,” adds Studio MOM founder Mars Holwerda. “The bicycle industry now has something at its disposal to stop the endless stream of harmful, systematic plastic and EPS waste. But we are not there yet. Who is in?”