Biotechnology, occupational safety and science fiction are coming together to give us what we never knew we needed: fungal hard hats.

The word on safety street (well, maybe it’s more of a dark and foreboding safety alley) is that researchers are trying to make hard hats out of mycelium – the network of the mushroom world. Now, I’m not talking about plastic hats infused with fungus, but hats actually grown from the stuff. Mycelium is strong, lightweight, fire-resistant, and (for all us environmentalists out there) biodegradable. So instead of tossing a hardhat in the trash when it gets cracked or expires (you all know hard hats have an expiration date, right? And follow the rule compulsively?), you can just throw it into a compost heap when you’re done with it.

Grown in molds, these fungal growths take about a week to form. What I think of as mushroom bricks are already being trialed as building material and insulation – in fact it is part of the movement called mycotecture—architecture and design using fungi as a structural material. Think fungal fireproof walls in refineries, biodegradable shipping containers, even astronaut habitats on Mars that grow themselves en route. Research at Columbia University shows that the fungal building materials can possibly even heal themselves when damaged.

Safety gear, though, is a new frontier. Supposing they are able to pass OSHA and ANSI standards, can you imagine the Toolbox Talk when these are rolled out?

Toolbox Talk: Your Hard Hat Was Alive Last Week

Good morning, crew.

Take a look at the helmets you’re wearing today. Believe it or not, every one of them was alive a week ago. They’re made of mycelium—how mushrooms communicate with each other. Instead of plastic, these helmets were grown in molds, fed with sawdust, and heat-cured into shape.

Why are we using them?

They pass the same ANSI impact and penetration tests as the old HDPE ones. If a wrench falls from the scaffolding, you’re just as safe.
They resist fire better than plastic. No melting, no dripping, no black smoke in your face.
When they crack or wear out, we don’t toss them in a dumpster—we compost them. In a few months, your grandma will be using them to grow her roses.

What does this mean for you?

Inspections change. Instead of only looking for cracks, you’ll also check for discoloration, soft spots, or mold growth. A funky smell is a bad sign—report it.

Storage matters. Don’t leave your helmet in a soaking wet gang box. Keep it in the dry lockers, or it can rot.

Customization. Notice how yours fits better? That’s because we grew it to your head size. No more “one-size-fits-none.”

Final reminder.
These helmets are tough, but only if you respect the rules: inspect daily, store properly, and report issues. Treat them like any other piece of PPE—just remember, this one used to be alive.