Mushroom Coffins: An Eco-Friendly Option for the Afterlife

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In the pursuit of sustainability, a unique Dutch startup, Loop Biotech, has reimagined our approach to the afterlife. Striving to maintain an individual’s eco-friendly lifestyle even after death, they’ve developed innovative, biodegradable coffins made from mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, and upcycled hemp fibers.

Source: Loop Biotech/Youtube

Bob Hendrikx, the inventive mind behind Loop Biotech, worked on an alternative to traditional wooden coffins that can take decades to grow and years to break down. The result? A “grown” coffin, resembling an unpainted Egyptian sarcophagus, that decomposes and returns the deceased to nature in approximately 45 days.

Traditions around death and funerals have been largely unaltered over the years, often failing to reflect the eco-conscious beliefs of the deceased or their loved ones. Loop Biotech’s innovative solution speaks to a growing desire for environmentally responsible burial practices, allowing individuals to embrace the full circle of life in a manner true to their sustainable ethos.

“We can enrich life after death and you can continue to thrive as a new plant or tree,” Hendrikx explains. Even for those who prefer cremation, Loop Biotech offers a mushroom-grown urn that can be buried with a sapling. As the urn decomposes, the ashes nourish the young tree, symbolizing life continuing in a new form.

These unique eco-friendly coffins and urns are not just a Dutch phenomenon. According to Hendrikx, the concept has caught on particularly well in Nordic countries, where environmental consciousness is strong and the role of mushrooms in the ecosystem is widely understood.

Costing around $1,000 for a coffin and $212 for an urn, Loop Biotech makes a point of promoting nature-focused funerals. They’ve partnered with Natuurbegraven Nederland, an organization that provides special habitats for burials in protected parks.

The choices we make in life, and now even in death, have a significant impact on our planet. Let’s continue exploring and supporting innovations that allow us to live — and leave — sustainably. After all, our commitment to Mother Earth should indeed be till death do us part.

For more exciting sustainability news and green lifestyle tips, stay with us. Remember, every small step you take towards sustainability today helps shape a better world for tomorrow!