In the design of the bicycle helmet, Studio MOM made use of the growing power and network structure of mycelium. The different layers in the design not only create extra cross-connections in the material, they also make space for the necessary airflow for cooling the head. For the strap and outer shell of MyHelmet, they used hemp textile, a biodegradable material to which mycelium attaches itself. The woven structure of the textile also gives the helmet extra strength. They then let the different parts grow together firmly. The strap is fixed during the growth process and connects to the other parts at the correct position. The proof of concept works and can now be developed further.

For safety reasons, you have to replace your bicycle helmet every 3 years. This creates a waste stream of a hard-to-recycle, a glued-together mixture of foam and plastic. Would it be possible to develop a helmet that is less harmful to our planet?

By developing a new process, Studio MOM has taken a considerable step towards using mycelium bio-manufacturing on an industrial scale. With MyHelmet, the bicycle industry now has the means to stop the endless stream of harmful, systematic plastic and EPS waste. The mycelium-based technology fits in with the new circular reality: there are minimal CO2 emissions, it does not require any fossil raw materials and the end result is 100% biodegradable.