Mushroom Industry ESG Thematic Report, 2023

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) in Mushroom Industry

As sustainability extends beyond environmental issues, ESG is best characterized as a framework used to help stakeholders understand how organizations manage environmental, social, and governance risks.

According to a Water, Energy and Climate Environmental Metrics 2017 study mushroom is not only healthy to eat but also healthy for the environment. Growing in moist, shady spots, mushrooms contribute hugely to the environment by keeping dead plant and animal matter from piling up and decaying more slowly. As a result, mushrooms help reducing waste in the environment. Through bioconversion of low value crop waste into high value protein-rich products, mushroom cultivation offers a sustainable solution for agricultural waste clean-up.

In addition to serving as a bioremediation strategy for agriculture wastes, mushroom farming is a profitable business venture for farmers. It is believed that mushroom cultivation has the potential to significantly improve nutritional quality and food security, as well as generate employment and business opportunities in the mushroom processing industry.

ESG Trends

Mushrooms have several advantages, including the fact that they need no light to grow, they convert waste into useful materials, and they store carbon in their tissue. Additionally, mushrooms benefit the immune system, protect against cancer, and even slow down the aging process. Mushrooms, in addition to other health and environmental benefits, are now considered to be one of the most sustainable materials in the fashion industry.

A new type of vegan leather is being offered by businesses around the world made from mushrooms. A mushroom leather is a vegan-friendly product made of mycelium, the vegetative part of a fungus, as an environmentally friendly alternative to animal leather. It is made from the mycelium of fungi, a group of eukaryotic organisms. A mushroom leather can be made by using mushroom caps instead of mycelium, or by using nutrient baths and heat to grow it to the shape you need.

The mushroom leather production process is entirely sustainable and fits in with the circular economy. This natural fiber is biodegradable after its life cycle has ended. Moreover, organic waste streams, including agricultural waste, are also valorized during this process. Furthermore, this type of leather alternative reduces the need for industrial animal agriculture, which provides animal leather to the fashion industry. Leather developed from mushroom creates a positive environmental impact making it a good alternative to animal and synthetic leather, helping solve the problem of plastic pollution.

Mushroom leather shoes no longer need harmful sprays to eliminate bad odours. The unique ability of the material to hold an enormous amount of air is another crucial factor for human skin. For this reason, this material provides products that are not only exceptionally light, but also excellent insulators.

For educated youth, mushroom production can be a good source of employment as it requires very little land and is easily available. Agro-waste and labor are both readily available for mushroom production. By integrating mushroom production into existing farming systems, rural masses will be able to supplement their incomes and grow inclusively.

Manufacturers are offering a variety of supplements of medicinal mushrooms to enhance health & increase the growth of the business This has a significant impact on the global medicinal mushroom market. Due to permanent changes in consumer buying behavior, the global medicinal mushroom market is expected to grow significantly over a long period due to a sudden surge in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion

According to industry forecasts, the mushroom market will grow by 9.7% per annum (CAGR) from 2022 to 2030, from a value of USD 50.3 billion in 2021. Over the forecast period, mushrooms are expected to be a major driver of the market due to their nutritional value as a superfood. A growing vegan population around the globe wants a protein-rich diet.

Among the many nutritional benefits that mushrooms provide, selenium, vitamin D, glutathione, and ergothioneine play a key role in preventing or reducing the risk of chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and dementia. Further, it has a strong umami flavor, so consumers can reduce salt proportions in mushroom meals by 30-40%. The COVID-19 outbreak has had a positive or negative impact on every sector in the market, including the medicinal mushroom market. It has positively impacted medicinal mushrooms, as their properties and health benefits led to an increase in demand.

Key Companies in this theme

    • Bonduelle Group

    • Costa Group

    • CMP Mushroom

    • Drinkwater mushroom

    • Greenyard

    • Monaghan group

Scope of the Mushroom Industry ESG Thematic Report:

    • Macro-economic and ESG-variable analysis of the industry, including regulatory, policy, and innovation landscape

    • Key insights on infrastructure developments and ESG issues affecting the theme

    • Identify key initiatives and challenges within the industry

    • Identify ESG leaders within the industry

    • Understand key initiatives and the impact of companies within the sector to fuel an informed decision-making process

    • Analysis of industry activities based on multi-media sources, including significant controversies and market sentiment

Key Benefits of the Mushroom Industry ESG Thematic Report:

    • Developing a comprehensive understanding of macro-economic, Policies & Regulations, and innovations affecting the market, globally

    • Key insights into Infrastructure developments and ESG issues affecting the theme

    • Identifying ESG risks and opportunities for business among leading players in the industry

    • Obtaining a clear and relevant understanding of company actions, progress, and impact and find opportunities for investment