The mushroom coffin: Inside Australia’s first mycelium burial

Mycelium: the root-like structure of a fungus made of thread-like filaments called hyphae. Well known for its role in the decomposition of plant matter

A burial at Springwood Cemetery in the Blue Mountains on Friday marked Australia’s first use of a mycelium-based coffin. Developed by Dutch startup Loop Biotech, the caskets are marketed as a low-impact alternative to traditional wood.

Australia becomes the 15th country to import the product, which the company says has been used by around 10,000 families worldwide.

The marketing from Loop is slick. “100% nature. Biodegradable. Soil-enriching. World’s first.”

The main product in the line is what’s called a Living Cocoon, AKA the mushroom coffin. It’s made of way more hemp than mycelium, though.

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

Visiting Australia to introduce these hemp and mycelium products to funeral directors and consumers, Loop Biotech founder Bob Hendrikx explained to me that the hemp is agricultural waste in the Netherlands.

“Normally, they would throw it in horse stalls or that kind of thing. We mix it with the mycelium, which will decompose the hemp, thereby creating a three-dimensional network of mycelium wires”.

When the soil gets wet, “it just reactivates and just continues the (decomposition) process”, he says.

The white stuff you see on the coffin is pure mycelium. To me, it feels like camembert cheese and velvet. That is, smooth and lovely to touch like velvet and soft and a little spongy like cheese that’s been out of the fridge for an hour.

Bob told me, “The ingredients are super simple. It’s mushroom, this hemp fibre, and we have this jute strap around it, which is also used for handling. We’re super proud to say that there are no chemicals, no glues.”

Loop’s key marketing message is “Let’s enrich nature”. The company says that the mycelium breaks down the hemp once it’s in the ground, and the cocoon biodegrades in about 45 days.

The carbon catch-22.

While this coffin is touted as an eco-friendly body disposition method, the carbon miles it travels from the Netherlands negate any perceived environmental benefit.

“We’re a young company. It’s only five years old, and we’re active now in Europe and the USA. I don’t have the funds currently to open a facility in the US or in Australia, even though we would love that”, Bob said.

“We first need a lot of Aussies basically to accept us… and get to a certain sales point that makes it valid to build an overseas facility which, from an environmental point of view, is the dream.”

For now, everything is grown in their 1,500-square-metre facility in the Netherlands, shipped worldwide, and stored in warehouses around the world.

The biosecurity challenge.

While New Zealand has allowed entry of the coffins without any fuss, Australia’s strict biosecurity rules have kept Bob on his toes.

“We have a heat treatment for the first batch, and we’re now working together with the local government (in the hope) that we don’t need any treatment before coming into Australia. That’s looking very positive.”

I approached the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, who said it was unable to disclose commercial-in-confidence information about the importation of mycelium-based coffins.

They did tell me, however, that “products such as these are assessed by the department to ensure there is no biosecurity risk posed to Australia. There are a range of risk measures applied to manage any associated risk. In some instances, the risk measures may include applying a ‘treatment’ that both manage exotic pests, diseases and is cell-destructive”. 

The spokesperson said, “I can confirm that there are no standard importing requirements that allow clearance of mycelium-based products for general uses without needing treatment or further risk measures being applied”.

Bob told me that the species of mycelium does occur here naturally in Australia.

Other hemp and mycelium product offerings include urns and a little coffin for infants. I foresee the Loop Little Cocoon doing well in the Australian market. It’s light and soft and quite lovely to hold. I imagine many parents suffering the unimaginable loss of an infant would prefer to rest their little one in a cocoon rather than a coffin.

Price tag.

Individual funeral homes will dictate retail pricing. The lowest price you’ll see on the market will be around $4,000, but I would expect larger funeral providers who add larger markups to offer it for considerably more than that. If that sounds on the steep side, it’s actually a pretty standard price for a casket.

The eco-friendly movement: friend or foe?

Eco-friendly funeral options are certainly having a moment. And it’s great that consumers have more choice.

Over the last 25 years, the humble coffin has undergone a massive evolution. Spurred by consumers wanting to leave a lighter footprint, traditional hardwoods have given way to enviroboard, cardboard, wicker, and shroud-only burials and cremations. Unsurprisingly, deathcare businesses have rushed to tout their green credentials, leaving families to figure out whether they’re buying genuine sustainability or just clever greenwashing. And with so little peer-reviewed science on the matter, they’ll be excused for being confused or misled. There’s more on that in this recent blog of mine HERE.

The best coffin or casket is simply the one that feels right to you. There are no rules, no wrong choices. Whether you’re planning for yourself or honouring someone special, all that matters is choosing an option you like, that brings you peace of mind, and that fits comfortably within your budget.

When you’ve made your decision, record your wishes in The Bottom Drawer Book: the after death action plan. Having choices is a wonderful thing — and leaving clear instructions ensures your loved ones never have to guess.

Loop Biotech’s expansion into Australia through local memorialisation partner Arrow Bronze is an exciting step forward. By recognising the emerging local demand for alternative end-of-life options, they are giving Australians even more freedom to align their final choices with their values. And we love choice.