The University of Nottingham will lead a two-year, £1.4 million research partnership with Swansea University, the University of Bath and Magical Mushroom Company to develop mycelium packaging as an alternative to expanded polystyrene (EPS). The work will study how fungal biology, composite structure and fluorine-free surface treatments affect strength, impact absorption and moisture resistance, with factory trials assessing consistency, throughput, defects, energy use