Why Mycelium Could Replace Leather - And Save the Planet

Vaibhav Kushwaha
Aug 5
2 min read

**Researcher inspects a mycelium culture with tweezers.**

Introduction

Did you know the traditional leather industry consumes nearly 17,000 litres of water per ton of hide and emits millions of tons of greenhouse gases each year? At MICO, we asked ourselves: what if materials could be grown, not built? The answer lies in the mycelium’s hidden network. In this post, we’ll explore what mycelium is, why today’s materials need a rethink, and how we at MICO are working on sustainable, biodegradable alternatives for the future of fashion, interiors, and beyond.

Nature’s Answer: Mycelium

Mycelium is the underground root system of fungi, a natural recycler that turns waste into life. Think of it as nature’s internet, connecting trees and plants through a web of communication and nutrient exchange. This incredible material isn’t just vital to ecosystems; it can also be grown and shaped into strong, flexible, and eco-friendly materials.

Preparing the substrate using agricultural byproducts.

The Problem With Leather and Synthetics

Water Waste & Pollution: Leather tanning pollutes water systems with harmful chemicals.
High Emissions: The leather industry contributes significantly to greenhouse gases.
Synthetic Plastics: Alternatives like PVC or PU leather are petroleum-based and non-biodegradable, creating long-term waste problems.

Clearly, we need a better.

The Impact: Water, Carbon, and Beyond

At MICO (a brand by Mycolabs Private Limited), we’re developing mycelium-based leather alternatives through biotech-driven R&D, backed by experts from leading IITs. Our process begins with agricultural byproducts as feedstock, where fungi naturally grow into dense, flexible mats.

While post-processing techniques are still under active exploration, studies from Ecovative Design show that mycelium-based leather can use 99% less water and emit 97% fewer greenhouse gases than traditional leather, at MICO, our goal is to build on this global knowledge by developing methods tailored to India’s agricultural ecosystem.

**Dense mycelium mat reveals an intricate network and biological activity.**

Beyond Leather: A Circular Future

The innovation doesn’t end with leather alternatives. Residues from mycelium cultivation can also be repurposed into packaging, insulation, or soil-enriching compost. Research published in Nature Sustainability highlights that such bio-based materials extend the lifecycle of waste streams while cutting dependency on fossil-based inputs.

This is the heart of our mission at MICO: to grow materials that work in harmony with nature while fueling new possibilities in fashion, interiors, packaging, and beyond.

Contributing to the UN SDGs

MICO’s work contributes directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption & Production: By using agricultural residues as raw material.
SDG 13 – Climate Action: By reducing emissions compared to traditional leather.
SDG 15 – Life on Land: By offering cruelty-free alternatives that protect biodiversity.

Conclusion

At MICO, our mission is simple: Rooted in Nature - where nature meets innovation. By working with mycelium, we aim to reshape industries with sustainable, biodegradable alternatives that are as kind to the planet as they are functional.

What do you think mycelium should replace first, leather in fashion, or plastics in packaging? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.