Mycel

MYCEL is a Korean biomaterials company founded in 2020 as a spin-off of the Hyundai Motor Group, working on biomimicry principles: borrowing the physiology and biochemistry of fungi to grow materials for packaging, automotive interiors and fashion. Research sits in Yongin, south of Seoul, with a branch office in Gangnam.

Its flagship material is Anolea, a mycelium-based sheet developed as a substitute for leather, grown from the vegetative part of the fungus rather than from petrochemicals or hides. It is presented as strong and light, with full biodegradability as the stated target, and MYCEL is building a traceability system that maps the production chain and backs the material with certification. The company positions itself as a partner for manufacturers cutting the carbon footprint of what they make.