Mushroom coffins are almost here.

We have another option! Forget wood coffins and cardboard caskets. The mushrooms are here!

An Australian company is importing coffins grown from mycelium — the underground root network of mushrooms — making them a ‘living cocoon’. The Dutch makers, Loop Biotech, have teamed up with Arrow Bronze to distribute them here. (Arrow Bronze has been in the cemetery and memorial space for 80 years, making plaques, urns, and accessories.)

Arrow Bronze has been jumping through customs hoops for months, but just yesterday they finally scored the import permits for Australia. They’ve also got import permits for New Zealand.

These ‘Loop Living Cocoons’ have been around overseas for a couple of years in places like the US, Canada, and the UK. They’re now in 15 countries across Europe, America, and now the Pacific. So far, about 10,000 families around the world have chosen a mushroom coffin.

They were launched in the USA about 18 months ago. Here’s the launch video:

The guy in the video is Bob Hendrikx, a Dutch architectural engineer turned eco-entrepreneur. I recently jumped on a video call with him and about 90 other industry folk to get the lowdown on these mycelium coffins. Since funeral directors are the ones who’ll actually be offering them, the session was geared straight at them.

Here’s what I found interesting:

Size and feel

The adult ‘Living Cocoon’ comes in one size and is tested to hold up to 200 kilograms. For children, there are three size options, including an infant model. They’re apparently soft and velvety to the touch.

Water resistant

They also repel water, so rain on a funeral day won’t be an issue, nor will moisture compromise the coffin’s structure. As Bob put it:

“Mycelium is naturally hydrophobic. If I put a drop of water on it, it behaves just like a banana leaf. It stays right on top. It’s waterproof. You could probably use it as a canoe for a couple of days.”

How they’re made

The coffins are grown inside a mould in climate-controlled rooms where the mycelium can flourish into the final shape. Once grown, the mould is simply removed. Hemp fibres are also part of the process. The entire growth process takes just seven days, whether it’s for a coffin or a mushroom urn.

Storage and decomposition

Once buried in soil, the coffins and urns self-compost. In ideal conditions, a coffin degrades in about 45 days. Crucially, it only starts breaking down once it contacts soil, so sitting in a warehouse or on a shelf won’t cause it to disappear.

Bob claims the benefits go beyond just breaking down:

“When you put one of our products in the soil, into nature, that’s where the real magic happens. It actually enriches the soil. Mycelium is a natural recycler, returning carbon and energy resources directly back to the earth.”

(I’m genuinely curious about what effect importing foreign mycelium might have on our local ecosystems, and what biosecurity hoops had to be jumped through to get them cleared for Australia.)

Local production realities

Bob mentioned a long-term vision to eventually build local facilities:

“Once we’re big enough, we would love to build a local plant and grow using local raw materials from your area.”

Honestly? I wouldn’t hold your breath. Australia is such a small market, so I don’t see local manufacturing happening anytime soon. For now, everything is grown in their 1,500-square-metre facility in the Netherlands, shipped worldwide, and stored in warehouses around the world (soon to be Melbourne).

Cremation and local regulations

While designed for natural and conventional burials, about 20% of these coffins have so far been cremated. Bob says they behave just like a standard coffin in the cremator, with similar burn times and technical specs (and they have info sheets ready for crematorium operators).

Are they a done deal here yet? I’m not so sure. You’ll still need to check state or local regulations to see if cemeteries in your area will permit them. In fact, I’ve already heard one rumour from one state saying “not at this stage”. If you happen to ask your local council or state or territory health department about their use, let me know what they say.

What next?

Arrow Bronze is currently recruiting funeral directors to stock the mycelium offerings for their clients. At this stage, the company is taking expressions of interest.

Green options

It’s great to have another option for consumers on the way. (It’ll be very interesting to see the price point.)

As with any body disposition option, try not to get swept up in ‘eco-friendly’ marketing. I’ll admit, I’m sceptical of most green claims in this space. That’s not to say mycelium coffins aren’t a wonderful innovation, but it’s worth keeping in mind the carbon footprint of shipping them all the way from the Netherlands. Still, they’re pretty impressive! And if it saves a native tree, YAY! Ultimately, the best choice is whatever feels right for you and your family.

And if you do want a mushroom coffin, write your wish down in The Bottom Drawer Book to ensure it’ll be actioned!