design & research
Future Fungi: Mycelium Materials to Replace Single-Use Plastics
Role: Founder, Research Lead, Product Prototyper, Presenter, Graphic/Brand Designer
Tags: Sustainable materials, Mycelium, Fungi, Bio-Design, Prototyping, Patent-Pending, Biodegradable,
Environment-Friendly, STEM Outreach, Pitch Competitions, Brand Design
Tools: Lab setup & environmental controls, Hand tools/molds, DSLR/Video, Adobe Photoshop and Premiere
Problem & Insight
Logo and brand designed by
Nima Shahab Shahmir
Plastic and Styrofoam are designed for moments of use but persist for centuries, releasing toxins that pollute oceans, soil, and air. While studying at WVU Tech, Nima began questioning why something so temporary should outlive its purpose. His fascination with mushroom biology - and the way mycelium naturally binds soil into strong, cohesive structures - sparked an idea: what if packaging could grow itself instead of being manufactured from petroleum? That simple question became the foundation of Future Fungi, an experimental materials project exploring mycelium as a biodegradable substitute for plastics, bridging environmental research, entrepreneurship, and sustainable design.
Presenting Future Fungi to representatives from the United States (US-EPA), Canada, and Mexico during the CEC Council Session
Nima Shahab Shahmir presenting at 2018 Commission for Environment Cooperation National Conference
Research & Development Approach
The development of Future Fungi began as an independent experiment, part scientific curiosity, part design exploration. My process started by studying the growth behavior of mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, and its natural ability to bind with agricultural waste like sawdust and wood chips. Working from a small makeshift lab at home, I cultivated early-stage prototypes by molding and heat-curing the material into cups, panels, and packaging forms.
Future Fungi's first stage prototype product
Through repeated growth cycles and testing, I refined the process to create samples that were shock-absorbent, flame-retardant, and waterproof, qualities rarely achieved together in biodegradable materials.
Over time, Future Fungi evolved from a concept about sustainability into a viable bio-design experiment that demonstrated how organic growth could replace industrial manufacturing.
Future Fungi's first stage prototype product
This phase also involved collaboration with WVU Tech LaunchLab and the Robert C. Byrd Institute, where I conducted further prototyping, material testing, and business modeling under mentorship from engineers and entrepreneurship specialists.
These partnerships helped establish the scientific credibility and commercial direction of the project, moving Future Fungi from a creative vision to a real-world sustainable material innovation.
Future Fungi receiving Robert C. Byrd Institute’s (RCBI) Vanguard Agriculture Design award 2018.
Nima Shahab Shahmir picture with Commissioner of Agriculture
Kent Leonhardt (left), and Bill Woodrum Project Coordinator for RCBI’s Agricultural Innovations Initiative (right).
Interview with WVVA TV News Channel at WVU Launch Lab Beckley Campus
Prototypes & Material Exploration
Each Future Fungi prototype was grown, not manufactured - shaped through time, temperature, and biology rather than chemical processing.
By combining locally sourced agricultural by-products with mushroom spores, I created a composite material that was lightweight yet incredibly strong, capable of absorbing impact, resisting heat, and repelling water.
The results took form as a family of early-stage products:
-
Biodegradable Cups / Planting Pots | designed to replace Styrofoam cups, each cup could hold liquids, maintain structure, and safely decompose within weeks once placed in soil.
-
Eco Packing “Peanuts" | buoyant, shock-absorbent pieces meant to protect fragile shipments while leaving no trace in landfills or oceans.
-
Mycelium Panels | rigid, fire-retardant sheets that could be saw-cut and shaped, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic insulation or wood-based boards.
-
Mycelium “Leather” Sheets (Later addition) | thin, flexible layers grown without sawdust, demonstrating potential for sustainable textile applications.
Future Fungi prototype product - Eco Packing Peanuts
Future Fungi prototype product - Biodegradable Cups / Planting Post
Future Fungi prototype product - Myceliums Panels
Future Fungi prototype product - Myceliums Leather Sheets
Each prototype proved that natural growth can yield engineered performance, a crucial step toward scaling biodegradable materials for real-world use.
Validation & Recognition
As the prototypes matured, Future Fungi quickly captured attention across academic, entrepreneurial, and environmental platforms. The project was recognized not just for its sustainability potential, but for its unique fusion of design thinking, material science, and social impact.
In 2017, Future Fungi won the West Virginia Vanguard Agriculture Design Competition, receiving over $10,000 in business assistance and R&D support from the Robert C. Byrd Institute. That same year, the project advanced to the St. Louis University Real Elevator Pitch Competition, placing 4th nationally among 20 student entrepreneurs pitching to investors in live elevator sessions.
Attending the West Virginia University Business Pitch Competition
Attending the St. Louis University Business Pitch Competition
Momentum continued when Future Fungi represented the United States at the 2018 Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) Youth Innovation Challenge, presenting to top environmental officials from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico at the CEC Council Session in Oklahoma City.
CED Youth Innovation Challenge, Nima representing United States
Group photo with the 2018 CEC Youth Innovation Challenge winners and North American environmental officials at the CEC Council Session in Oklahoma City
The project also earned recognition through the WVU Tech LaunchLab, TEN50 Business Accelerator, and regional showcases such as the Common Grounds Entrepreneurial Competition. Each stage brought new opportunities - mentorship, prototyping resources, and cross-disciplinary collaboration - that strengthened Future Fungi’s viability as a sustainable innovation capable of transforming waste into design.
Future Fungi poster at 2018 CEC Conference
Presenting at TEN50 Business Accelerator
Media & Public Engagement
Future Fungi’s story extended far beyond the lab, reaching classrooms, national media outlets, and international audiences. Through outreach and public engagement, the project became both a scientific endeavor and an educational movement toward sustainability.
Presenting at Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol
Nima with West Virginia University's President, Gordon Gee
Participated in National Entrepreneurship Week roundtable with Senator Joe Manchin III at WV Hive (with Kelly)
The research and prototypes were featured extensively in print and broadcast media, including WV Living Magazine, Morgantown Magazine, Mountain Messenger, and The Register-Herald, as well as interviews on WVVA News, WOAY-TV, and coverage on the EPA.gov website.
Each feature emphasized Future Fungi’s potential to replace plastics and Styrofoam with fully biodegradable, mycelium-based alternatives.
Interview with New River Gorge Regional Development Authority
Nima was invited to speak at schools, universities, and environmental conferences, including the Governor’s STEM Institute at Green Bank Observatory, Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol, and West Virginia University’s Demo Day Expo. These presentations introduced students and professionals alike to the possibilities of merging design, sustainability, and science.
Presentation for West Virginia Governor's STEM Institute Summer camp
Participating in West Virginia University's Demo Day Expo
The project’s success also led to its selection as a case study in sustainable entrepreneurship through programs like
WV Hive, the LaunchLab WV, and the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps STEM Marketing program, further cementing Future Fungi’s role in fostering regional innovation and environmental awareness.
Future Fungi feature in WV Living magazine
Awards & Achievements
Over the course of its development, Future Fungi earned national and international recognition for advancing sustainable materials and eco-entrepreneurship.
Each achievement reflects years of research, experimentation, and collaboration aimed at replacing plastic with natural, regenerative design.
Key Highlights:
-
2020 | Featured in Greenbrier Valley Quarterly Magazine
-
2019 | Featured in WV Living Magazine, Morgantown Magazine, WVU Tech Golden Bears Magazine - Recognized as a leader in green innovation and student entrepreneurship.
-
2019 | Participant, NSF UNY I-Corps STEM Marketing Program - Explored market viability for mycelium-based products.
-
2018 | United States Winner, Commission for Environmental Cooperation Youth Innovation Challenge - Presented Future Fungi at the CEC Council Session before environmental leaders from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Received C$5,000 funding. -
2018 | Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol, Charleston WV - Showcased biodegradable product prototypes to state senators and environmental leaders
-
2018 | Panelist, WV University Foundation State of Minds Campaign & WV Community & Development HUB Project – Advocated for youth entrepreneurship and innovation in sustainability.
-
2018 | WVU Launch Lab Show of Hands Business Pitch Competition - finalist among student entrepreneurs
-
2017 | St. Louis University Real Elevator Pitch Competition - Placed 4th nationally among student entrepreneurs presenting live to investors.
-
2017 | The Neuron, West Virginia Science & Research Magazine - Featured in the Spring edition
-
2017 | West Virginia Vanguard Agriculture Design Competition Winner - Received $10,000 in business assistance and R&D support from the Robert C. Byrd Institute.
-
2017 | New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, Common Grounds Business Pitch Competition - First place award for sustainable business innovation.
Across these milestones, Future Fungi demonstrated how local research from West Virginia could inspire global change - proving that environmental innovation can begin anywhere vision meets purpose.
Outcome & Legacy
What began as a small experiment in sustainable materials evolved into a powerful journey of research, advocacy, and impact. Future Fungi proved that innovation can emerge from curiosity, community support, and the determination to create meaningful change.
Through years of development, Future Fungi combined scientific exploration, design thinking, and entrepreneurship - transforming fungi’s natural resilience into a scalable, eco-friendly material. The project’s recognition across universities, national media, and environmental institutions not only validated its vision but also positioned it as a model for how creative research can address global challenges.
Beyond its tangible prototypes, Future Fungi’s legacy lives in its influence on Nima’s broader mission: to bridge design, technology, and sustainability.
It laid the groundwork for future explorations at the intersection of UX, emerging technologies, and environmental design, inspiring a lifelong commitment to shaping innovations that serve both people and the planet.