According to the UN, cities are responsible for the consumption of over 75% of the world's resources, generate around 50% of the world's waste and contribute to more than 70% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Alternative, sustainable materials are needed to reduce the GHG of material-intensive industries such as construction. This is where NEWood technology comes in, utilising mushroom mycelium (the root network of fungi) as a natural binder to convert organic waste into valuable products. NEWood permanently binds biogenic carbon in circular building products and is made exclusively from locally available wood processing residues, agricultural waste and fungal mycelium.

The expected project outcome is the development of a 1:1 demonstrator that demonstrates NEWood and lightweight mycelium materials as a versatile material for interior wall systems and furniture components. The demonstrator will be designed to fulfil the legal standards of the construction and furniture industry, so that a market launch is possible towards the end of the project. The demonstrator designed by KIT will be tested by end users (e.g. KIT staff and students) and exhibited at the architecture faculty and central library of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) as well as at KIT stands at other building and furniture fairs to demonstrate the application and material potential. An accompanying feasibility study on industrialisation is also planned, as well as a life cycle-based environmental impact assessment (life cycle assessment) and cost analysis, which will provide valuable insights into the feasibility and sustainability of integrating NEWood and lightweight mycelium materials into these products/industries.