How can we properly integrate living organisms into our everyday lives and consciously activate their poperties? The toilet paper flushed has a mycelial component that is only reactivated during flushing. The hyphal network is able to metabolise pollutants dissolved in the water on its way through the sewage system. Each day, a large number of pharmaceuticals, their degradation products, and other micropollutants end up in our wastewater. The concentration of heavy metals, homones, and antibiotics in the groundwater is therefore increasing strongly impacting our environment. Using four possible strategies and material experiments, I investigated how mycelium can be integrated into industrial toilet paper production.




Currently, however, sewage treatment plants can do little to prevent the pollution of our wastewater. Bacteria and protozoa metabolise our excreta and contribute to the production of drinking water from wastewater, which is then added back to the natural water cycle or simply discharged back into the nearest river. In addition, conventional strategies for treating contaminated water are costly, energy-intensive, and often result in the production of toxic by-products.                      
Flushed will initially be available in pharmacies. Depending on the medication, the appropriate mycelium roll is recommended and can even be prescribed by the doctor.





Supervisor

Prof. Mareike Gast, Andreas Wagner and 
Dr. Falko Matthes


Mark