{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Balancing The Future","title":"Mushroom Boxes: The Nature-Inspired Solution Making Cold Chain Sustainable","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/40912c3e\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1215,"description":"The cold chain industry helps move food, vaccines, and other perishable goods around the world. But it also has a big carbon footprint, so finding cleaner, smarter ways to improve the system is really important. \n \nIn this episode of Balancing the Future, Chai and Micah sit down with Tapasvi Bhatt, a PhD scholar from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and winner of the 2026 METTLER TOLEDO Innovator Award. Along with his peer researchers, he built a way to lower the cold chain’s carbon footprint: a box made from mushrooms. \n \nTapasvi explains that cold chain boxes are often insulated with non-recyclable materials like petrochemical foams or polyurethane, which take a long time to break down. On top of that, it is usually cheaper to make a new box than to return and reuse the original, adding even more carbon emissions to the supply chain. \n \nThat’s why Tapasvi and his team developed a box made from a mycelium composite, which is a mix of mycelium, oats, and other biodegradable materials. These boxes insulate well, can be reused several times, and break down easily in soil. If widely adopted, this technology could significantly reduce the cold chain industry’s carbon footprint. \n \nMicah and Chai also discuss other possible uses for mycelium composite, including building materials, furniture, and even coffins. \n  \nLINKS: \nTapasvi Bhatt on LinkedIn \nMETTLER TOLEDO Website \nMETTLER TOLEDO on LinkedIn \nBalancing The Future Podcast Website \nMicah Schweizer on LinkedIn \nChai Nussbaumer on LinkedIn \nEPISODE SOURCES: \nMETTLER TOLEDO Innovator Award \nThe Growing Pavillion, Amsterdam, The Netherlands \nThe Hy Fi Pavillion, New York City, USA \n7 Unexpected Uses Of Mycelium Composites You’ll Love Knowing – Bina Biox \n ABOUT BALANCING THE FUTURE: \n Science and technology play a key role in solving many of the world’s toughest problems. Balancing the Future introduces listeners to the people and innovations addressing these challenges.  \n  \nWe explore wide-ranging...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/Pdz75J9vcHeJ4yds5tmYwMJQx0rFGsRV7sZb9oJezxg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iNzMy/ZmNiNGYyNDFmODQ1/NjdhZWY5YzlkYWEx/NzNmYi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}