ICAX
SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION: ICAX AND MAGICAL MUSHROOM COMPANY® TRANSFORM HEAT PUMP PACKAGING
REPLACING POLYSTYRENE PACKAGING
ICAX Ltd, a leader in cleantech innovation, collaborated with Magical Mushroom Company® to develop Mushroom® Packaging for small heat pumps as part of an Innovate UK Business Connect project.
This partnership aligns with ICAX’s strategy to reduce waste in the construction industry and promote environmental sustainability. By replacing expanded polystyrene with a biodegradable mycelium-based solution, ICAX has taken a significant step toward reducing environmental impact.
This collaboration showcases how innovative biomaterials can meet the demands of heavy-duty industrial applications while supporting eco-conscious practices.
“PROVING MUSHROOM® PACKAGING WORKS FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS.”
THE PROBLEM
SOURCING DURABLE & ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PACKAGING FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY
ICAX faced a major challenge: finding sustainable packaging for heavy industrial items like heat pumps.
Traditional materials, such as expanded polystyrene, are not environmentally friendly and contribute to significant waste and pollution.
ICAX needed a durable and eco-friendly packaging solution that could handle the weight and complexity of industrial heat pumps without compromising sustainability.
THE SOLUTION
USING MUSHROOM® PACKAGING’S UNIQUE PROPERTIES, TO CREATE STRONG & LIGHT PACKAGING
Magical Mushroom Company® designed a revolutionary Mushroom® Packaging solution using mycelium grown from agricultural waste.
This biodegradable packaging was custom-engineered to meet the unique demands of heavy industrial items, providing a strong, home-compostable alternative to polystyrene.
The packaging solution created for ICAX is the largest of its kind produced by Magical Mushroom Company®, demonstrating the scalability and versatility of mycelium technology.
THE RESULT
FIRST HEAT PUMP MANUFACTURER TO MARKET, USING MYCELIUM BASED PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY
ICAX became the first heat pump manufacturer to adopt Mushroom® Packaging, proving its feasibility and effectiveness for heavy-duty industrial applications.
This project marked a significant step toward eliminating polystyrene packaging in the construction industry, setting a new standard for sustainable practices.
With support from Innovate UK, the packaging solution is now part of Magical Mushroom Company®’s long-term offerings, paving the way for broader adoption in other industrial sectors.
“The project successfully demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of Mushroom® Packaging for heavy industrial items like heat pumps.
This collaboration has set a new benchmark for sustainability in the construction industry.”
Finley Russell, ICAX Ltd
