Myco Renew develops fungal technology to convert textile waste into building materials

Polish company Myco Renew has developed a technology that uses specific fungal consortia to biologically decompose used clothing, including synthetic materials like polyester. The resulting fabric residue combined with mycelium can be transformed into raw materials for the construction industry, such as eco-bricks.

The company currently operates a bioreactor capable of processing approximately 15 kg of textiles per cycle and is seeking funding to scale operations to process tons of waste. This innovation addresses a significant environmental challenge: in 2025, Europe generated approximately 15.2 million tons of textile waste, but only about 1.5 million tons were collected and sorted for reuse. Less than 1% of textiles are currently recycled back into new fibers.

The rise of fast fashion has contributed to the crisis, with Europeans purchasing an average of 95 textile products annually—a 12% increase since 2019. As material quality declines and synthetic fibers replace natural ones, separating blended fabrics becomes increasingly difficult and costly. Much of the global textile waste, estimated at 92 million tons annually, currently ends up in landfills or is incinerated.