Conference Speakers

Sanjay Wahal, Ph.D.

Founder & President, Decarbonization, LLC

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Sanjay Wahal is a seasoned sustainability strategist, systems thinker, technology innovator, and business leader with deep expertise in decarbonization technologies, bio-based materials, and circular economy solutions. With more than three decades of experience spanning academia, research, and industry, he has been at the forefront of pioneering innovations that bridge science with commercial application—particularly in sustainable materials, engineered absorbent nonwovens, vegan leather, biopolymers, wipes, clean energy, and carbon reduction solutions. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Technology Innovation at FyterTech Nonwovens.

As Founder and President of Decarbonization, LLC, an advisory and consulting firm operating at the intersection of science, innovation, AI, and market transformation, Dr. Wahal has guided startups, Fortune 500 companies, and global investors in accelerating their transition to low-carbon pathways and sustainable business models. His collaborations with leading climate-tech ventures and impact investors emphasize innovation, accountability, finance, and inclusive strategies to drive systemic decarbonization.

Dr. Wahal holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island, an MBA in Strategy and Innovation from Vanderbilt University, and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. He began his professional journey as a Postdoctoral Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), working under the mentorship of Professor Robert A. Brown, a globally renowned chemical engineer and former President of Boston University. He is also the co-inventor of 21 patents, granted or pending.

His forthcoming book, The eCarbon Card Blueprint: Digital Solutions for Carbon Accountability – India as a Model, presents a data-driven, technology-centric framework to accelerate the global transition toward net-zero emissions.

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Mycelium-Based Binders and Packaging Materials with Engineered Properties: Sustainable High-Performance Alternatives for Hygiene and Absorbent Applications

Mycelium-based binders and packaging materials are gaining traction as next-generation, biofabricated substitutes for fossil-derived foams and synthetic absorbents. Their scalability depends on advances in fungal biotechnology, substrate engineering, and digitally enabled process control. This presentation will highlight the valorization of cellulose-rich residues from the pulp and paper industry as substrates, integrating waste streams into a circular bioeconomy.

Quantitative performance data will be presented comparing mycelium-based composites (MBCs) with expanded polystyrene (EPS), polyurethane (PU), and bio-based foams (PLA, PHA) across key engineering metrics: compressive strength, thermal conductivity (0.03–0.07 W/m·K), noise reduction coefficients (0.5–0.7 mid-frequency), and water absorption (200–600% of dry weight). Lifecycle assessments (ISO 14040/44-compliant) demonstrate greenhouse gas emissions of ~0.1–0.3 kg COâ‚‚/kg, compared to ~3.5 kg for EPS, and energy demand below 5 MJ/kg—an order of magnitude lower than PU foams.

Hygiene-relevant applications include absorbent cores for sanitary products, oil and chemical spill pads, and spill-containment liners, enabled by engineered porosity and capillary action in pulp-sludge-based substrates. Case studies from commercial pilots will examine cost-parity thresholds, cold-chain spawn logistics, and the engineering trade-offs between porosity and strength. Scale-up challenges—growth cycle variability (5–12 days), sterility, and compliance with ASTM, ISO, and EN performance standards—will be critically assessed.

Finally, the presentation will map research frontiers including CRISPR-enabled strain optimization, substrate formulation, hybrid composite integration with nanocellulose and biopolymers, and Industry 4.0 strategies such as digital twins and IoT-controlled growth chambers. Policy drivers — including plastic bans, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and carbon credit markets — will also be discussed in the context of industrial adoption.

By integrating materials science, industrial ecology and market insights, this presentation will position mycelium-based systems as a technically-viable and industrially scalable platform for high-performance, biodegradable solutions in hygiene and absorbent product applications—aligning industry innovation with circular economy and decarbonization goals.