As more people seek eco-friendly alternatives to traditional burials, one innovation is helping turn death into regeneration, literally.
Mushroom caskets are made from living mycelium, and offer a way for human bodies to return gently to the earth and nourish new life in the process.
Created by Dutch startup Loop Biotech, the Loop Living Cocoon is a biodegradable coffin grown from upcycled hemp fibres and mycelium (the root structure of mushrooms).
It’s fully compostable and breaks down in as little as 45 days once buried, transforming the deceased into “sources of life” for the natural world.
“Mycelium is one of nature’s most powerful recyclers,” said Bob Hendrikx, founder of Loop Biotech
“We created the Loop Living Cocoon to offer a way for humans to enrich nature after death. It’s about leaving the world better than we found it.”
Lined with moss and free of glue, plastic, or chemicals, the casket is designed to decompose rapidly while helping detoxify the soil, something traditional coffins can’t do.
Conventional burials typically involve metal, hardwood, and embalming fluids that can linger in the ground for decades. Cremation, while more compact, emits greenhouse gases and requires significant energy.
According to the Green Burial Council, more than 470 cemeteries in the US and Canada now offer green burial options. The trend is being driven by shifting values around sustainability, as well as a desire for more meaningful, end-of-life rituals.
Mushroom caskets are part of a growing green burial movement that aims to reduce the environmental impact of end-of-life practices.
Loop Biotech said what makes its mushroom casket stand out is its regenerative approach.
The mushroom casket can be used for both burials and cremation remains, and stored above ground for years until needed.
Once in contact with moisture in the soil, it begins to decompose, completing its natural cycle.
Moreover, it doesn’t just break down the body; it can decontaminate the soil, breaking down heavy metals and pollutants, and encouraging new plant growth
“Funerals can be more than endings; they can be beginnings,” Hendrikx added. “Nature has the tools to handle death. We just need to work with it.”
