Between “The Last of Us” and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, we’ve heard a lot about ‘shrooms this year — but did you know you can literally be buried in them?
Traditional wooden or metal coffins and caskets can lead to soil and water pollution near cemeteries. Dutch company Loop Biotech makes coffins and cremation urns from fungi, which biodegrade in just 45 days.
How it works
Products are made from hemp fiber and mycelium, the underground, thread-like root structure of fungus. Mycelium is especially good at breaking down waste and cleaning soil, meaning bodies essentially become compost for new life.
Loop offers three products, each grown in seven days inside a mold:
- The Living Cocoon: A lidded coffin lined with a bed of moss.
- The ForestBed: A funeral carrier for use in wakes or funerals.
- The EarthRise: A living urn for cremated remains. It can be buried with a sapling that will eventually grow into a tree
They range between ~$212 and $1k — significantly cheaper than the ~$2.5k average for a metal casket. The company currently has capacity to grow ~500 products/month, and ships across Europe, per The Associated Press.
It’s also partnered with Natuurbegraven Nederland (Nature Burials Netherlands), which opened in 2012 and now has six nature cemeteries — including one where a rare bee species was found.
Not for you? Have you considered being turned into a playable vinyl record?