The invention of plastics has been one of the greatest chemical successes of the 20th century, but it came at a high cost that is choking the planet. Alternative solutions like mycelium, a hair-like structure of a fungus, can be grown to produce a product that can be moulded in various shapes. It could at least partially replace styrofoam, while many other applications are equally appealing. It is 100% biodegradable and a nutrient for soil and plants.