Acoustic Performance and Life Cycle Assessment of a Mycelium-Based Insulation Composite Produced from Agricultural Waste

From the paper

Abstract

Mycelium-based composites (MBC) have already been applied in various fields like construction, architecture, packaging, waste management and many others, as a sustainable replacement material. The composites created from such materials are lightweight, biodegradable and can take many different geometrical shapes. As there are many different combinations of fungal mycelium and organic substrates it is not only important to investigate and determine which of these combinations perform best from an acoustic perspective but also from an environmental point of view. The sound absorption qualities of these biocomposites have been investigated. It was found that the sound absorption coefficients range from 0,33 to 0,49 for the four different mixtures of substrate and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). The results from the acoustic testing are promising, but the environmental impact of these mycelium-based composites also needs to be determined. The impact from water and especially from energy, used during the growth and preparation cycles are the main contributors to the environmental impact of MBCs, which is also confirmed by relevant literature. A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted, utilizing the ReCiPe method, with selected environmental impact categories, based on real world production data and scientific literature. The obtained results were also compared with a commercially produced acoustical stone wool panel. The influence on environmental impact of the different substrates is also analyzed, determining which MBC is the most environmentally friendly and has the best acoustical properties.