Plastic pollution: Fungi to the rescue!

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. With millions of tonnes of waste accumulating in oceans, landfills, and on land annually, finding sustainable solutions is critical. A major concern with plastics is their toxicity and persistence, particularly polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals,” which have infiltrated global food and water supplies.

Fungi, known as nature’s decomposers, break down organic matter by secreting enzymes into their surroundings, recycling nutrients into the soil. Recently, scientists have discovered certain fungi can break down much tougher materials—like plastic. Researchers at Yale University and the Ecuadorian Museum of Natural Sciences have found mushrooms that can “eat” plastic, opening new avenues for waste management.

This process, known as bioremediation, involves microorganisms breaking down organic and inorganic pollutants in the environment. It’s already being used to mitigate oil spills. Mushrooms are now emerging as valuable players in such efforts.

Three fungi stand out for their plastic-degrading abilities:

Pestalotiopsis microspora, discovered in the Amazon in 2011, is an endophytic fungus capable of degrading synthetic plastic polymers. Uniquely, it survives in both oxygen-rich and oxygen-free environments, making it ideal for landfills.

Pleurotus ostreatus, the oyster mushroom, feeds on nematodes by paralysing them and absorbing their nutrients. It can also break down oxo-biodegradable plastics using similar enzymes, thereby significantly accelerating decomposition.

Schizophyllum commune, also known as the split gill mushroom, is prized as a culinary delicacy and has promising pharmaceutical properties, including potential for cancer treatment. It, too, has shown the ability to degrade plastic through enzymatic activity.

Research shows that certain mushroom species can reduce plastic weight by 40–60% in a matter of weeks. However, decomposition rates depend on plastic type, enzyme concentration, temperature, and humidity.

Potential applications of plastic-eating fungi include:

Landfill bioremediation – Reducing volume and contamination risk in landfills.

Wastewater treatment – Degrading microplastics in water systems.

Sustainable manufacturing – Using fungal enzymes to create more biodegradable plastics.

An estimated 400 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced globally each year. Plastics are choking ecosystems and communities. While mushrooms offer a promising tool in fighting plastic pollution, they are not a standalone solution. Lasting change will require reducing plastic production and shifting to sustainable alternatives. Without systemic action, even the most innovative measures remain temporary fixes.