5 Amazing New Ways Mushrooms Positively Impact the Environment
Mushrooms have been used as food and medicine for thousands of years. They are a source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. What many people don't know is that mushrooms also have some amazing environmental benefits. In this post from our team at West Wolf Medicinals, we will discuss five of the newest environmentally positive attributes of mushrooms. Learn more below and shop our medicinal mushroom extract blends online today!
Mushroom Burial Suit
There is a large environmental footprint to dying in America. Preparing a body with embalming fluids eventually leaches toxins into the soil. Although considered more environmentally friendly than burial, cremation involves fossil fuels and an aftermath of dirty smoke. There is a solution: the mushroom burial suit, also known as the Infinity Burial Suit. One manufacturer is Coeio, they make a biodegradable burial shroud made from mushroom spores. The spores are designed to help decompose the body and filter toxins from it so it does not contaminate surrounding plant life after a body is buried in it. One would indeed RIP.
Mushroom Farming
We at West Wolf started mushroom farming a few years ago because we wanted to grow something that didn’t take up a lot of room, was low tech and flexible, and was needed in the community. We used a 20x15 foot facility on our farm and added a grow tent, lights, and a humidifier (because we live in Colorado!). It is a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to produce food. It requires less water than other types of agriculture, the yields are often high and it has low CO2 emissions. As mushroom farmers we use compostable materials, such as straw and coffee grounds, to grow the mushrooms, which reduces the amount of waste produced in the process. We also used the spent materials (mycelium mixed with dirt and straw) on our farm to support the creation of healthy soil. Mushrooms also are more nutritious than meat and a great substitute for meat in most meals! Look for local mushrooms in your city.
Mushroom Leather
One of the most innovative and sustainable things to come out of the mushroom industry lately is mushroom leather. This vegan leather is made from the mycelium, or the root system, of mushrooms. Mushroom leather is environmentally friendly because it requires no chemicals or toxic agents in its production. Mushroom leather is durable, flexible, and has a similar look and feel to animal leather.
Mushroom Packaging
No more cutting down precious trees! Mushroom packaging is a sustainable and eco-friendly option for businesses. Mushroom packaging is made from mycelium, strong and lightweight, perfect for packaging products. Mushroom packaging is also completely biodegradable, meaning that it will not pollute the environment and end up in a trash heap.
Mushroom Products
In tandem with mushroom farming, there are a variety of mushroom products that are environmentally friendly, sustainable and good for you. These include medicinal mushroom extracts and supplements. They are made by extracting the nutrition from the mushroom’s fruiting body. Read more about our extraction process here. Medicinal mushroom extracts are a powerful source of antioxidants and other nutrients, plus they are vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO. Proven by western science and known for thousands of years by traditional peoples, mushroom extracts can support a healthy immune system, healthy aging and so much more.
We hope you enjoyed learning about the 5 environmentally positive attributes of mushrooms. Browse our medicinal mushroom extract blends at West Wolf Medicinals today! We offer a variety of formulas that are perfect for those looking to improve their health and well-being. Mush love!
