Eco-friendly cycle helmet from mycelium and hemp

Dutch design office Studio MOM has developed a bicycle helmet from biomaterials that, unlike polystyrene helmets, can be produced without fossils fuels and composted after use.

A specially developed form of mycelium – the fleshy root-like structure of a fungus – forms the main shell of MyHelmet, while the outer skin and strap are produced from a hemp textile.

Experts recommend replacing a helmet every three to five years, as the strength is likely to be reduced by the wear-and-tear of regular use. However, most bicycle helmets are made from expanded polystyrene, or EPS, a form of plastic that is difficult to dispose of. It is non-biodegradable and harder to recycle after it has been glued to the other components of a helmet.

The MyHelmet design replaces the EPS with a mycelium that is cultivated on a diet of hemp flakes. By briefly heating up this mycelium during the growing process, its structural makeup becomes similar to that of EPS; it becomes rigid, lightweight and has low thermal conductivity. The natural layer structure of the mycelium also creates space for airflow, helping to keep the wearer’s head cool.

Source: DeZeen