So, people are innovating new types of packaging to replace plastic. That's great!
I just worry about whether it matters if you're allergic to the organic source of the materials? There are microwaveable plates made from wheat, a common allergen, and storage containers made from mushrooms, a much less common allergen. I might need to avoid them. Next will probably be shrimp shells. Maybe someone will use something non-food as a replacement for plastic.
@kimlockhartga 🧵 There's a difference between science and "popular" stories about new stuff.
Most people don't know that plants contain #cellulose (yes, that stuff in wood or paper) and that in #mushroom packages are no #mushrooms!
The latter as an example: Mushrooms are fruits of a living creature (own kingdom, no plant, no animal). The creature itself is growing/rooting thanks to the #mycelium. And if you put the mycelium cells to a lab, you'll find Chitin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitin #Chitin is
@kimlockhartga 🧵 a #polymer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer Polymers are large compounds of macromolecules, therefore great to "build" something. We have natural and artificial polymers: Your DNA or coton fibres are made from polymer as well as a plastic bottle.
We mostly built stuff with artificial polymers because they were cheap and very easy to engineer since the 1950s. With the problem of plastic waste, engineering seeks more and more for natural polymers.
The Chitin in mycelium works like a glue
@kimlockhartga 🧵 It's great because of its elasticity. It's a polymer from the lab-grown mycelium, *no* mushroom. And it has to get combined with materials like cellulose (from paper, cardboard, wood, or plant waste.
Also this plant waste is processed: until the cellulose is left.
So please don't mix up popular marketing speech and real ingredients. The polymer left is as much polymer as an artificial plastic but it's better for publicity to say "wheat/mushrooms".
Life is chemistry. 🤫 😎
Kim Possible 
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