Mushroom packaging specifications and options (MU23007)

This project helped the Australian mushroom industry better understand how to move away from PVC wrap and toward more sustainable packaging, without risking shelf life, product quality or pack‑line performance.

The project identified realistic replacement options already available to growers and provided practical tools to compare them. The work showed that recyclable polyolefin and polyethylene films could be viable alternatives to PVC, while highlighting where further testing is still needed before industry‑wide adoption.

The project reviewed local and international research, scanned more than 50 global packaging solutions, and consulted closely with growers, retailers, packaging suppliers, recyclers and technical experts. From this work, nine commercially available films were shortlisted and assessed using a new evaluation framework covering sustainability, equipment compatibility, cost, technical performance, food safety and consumer acceptance.