Biobased entrepeneur Jan Berbee (grown.bio) on the power of mycelium

It was an internet search that set Jan Berbee on his path to becoming a biobased entrepreneur. While working as an advisor in sustainable packaging, a client asked Berbee if he could find an alternative for the plastic punnet in which mushrooms are sold in the supermarket. He typed in ‘mushroom packaging’ in the search engine and to his surprise, instead of packaging for mushrooms, he found packaging made from mushrooms. Berbee’s curiosity was triggered. He then founded the company Grown.bio, a biotechnology company that uses mycelium to grow sustainable and compostable protective packaging, building materials and interior design items. “We’re doing irreparable damage to the earth by using oil-based products. We can never make that right again”