The Magical Mushroom Technology Behind the “Cocoon”

For the tricky business of breaking down biological remains, few contenders pull the weight of mushroom-based products. As we’ve recently covered in some detail, America has had its first mushroom-based burial used an imported vessel called “The Cocoon” from a company in the Netherlands called Loop Biotech. Though American products are available stateside, the attraction of Loop’s Cocoon lies in its established track record and rapidity of its decomp process, as well as its budget-friendliness. Here, we’ll take a look at a bit of the magic behind the Cocoon’s dispositional superpowers.

Like similar mycelial-based products, The Cocoon is fully biodegradable, entirely of cultivated mycelium and plant matter. The design incorporates a bed of moss as a lining and the entire burial vessel designed to fully break down in less than two months, enriching the soil. The fortified soil then accelerates decomposition of remains to less than 3 years (compare to the 8-10 typical with traditional burial).

Tools of the Mycelial Trade: How it works

The magic (lies in a process called Mycoremediation. Mycoremediation gains traction and effectiveness as the process is refined. Famously effective species include Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushrooms) from the family known as white rot fungus, which are particularly useful at environmental waste sites like oil spills and prized for the ability to break down hydrocarbons and toxins (like formaldehyde) by producing enzymes capable of dismantling complex molecules.

These fully green burial options pack a double punch: when activated, released enzymes break down organic matter more rapidly, while the mycelia neutralize many toxins present in the body. By dismantling potentially harmful molecules and rendering them inert, Mycoremediation intercepts heavy metals, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals, among other substances, protecting the surrounding soil from pollution that might otherwise leach into ground soil and surrounding water sources.

Loop’s Cocoon

The fungal species used in The Cocoon’s proprietary formula aren’t specified, but the company website indicates that they’re local to the region. The initial period of growth of the Cocoon vessel, during which it is shaped into a casket-type form, take about 7 days; after, its cured and dried to a shape solid enough to hold a grown man.

Last words

There are other Mycoremediation product options from Loop, of course, and similar businesses. Depending on the context and the wishes of the family, all work in similar ways. Options like Mycoremediation are among the most ecologically responsible available, and offer benefits to the environment in urban areas, especially cemeteries where soil quality is declining. For clients with an eye toward green funeral options, such mushroom products are sure to attract attention and gain popularity as the worldwide market expands.

New products come to market all the time. The issues for companies with new products include how to make potential consumers aware of them and how to distribute the product to those consumers.

The Loop Biotech “Living Cocoon” is a new poduct for green burials.  According to an article in Funeral Service Times “The Loop Living Cocoon is a coffin grown from mycelium – the underground root network of mushrooms – which acts as “nature’s recycler”, breaking down organic matter and returning nutrients to the soil. The concept is simple yet revolutionary: instead of being buried in a material that takes decades to decompose, the mushroom biodegrades in as little as 45 days – enriching the soil and leaving no environmental footprint.”

Recently, the Netherlands developed product has found acceptance in Great Britain and has signed Poppy’s Funerals as one of their dealers.  According to the Funeral Service Times article, “Designed and developed by Loop Biotech in the Netherlands, this pioneering product is now available across the United Kingdom, offering a natural and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional coffins. Around 20 funerals have already taken place using the mushroom coffin in the UK.”

Perfect for Green Burials??  —  Again, according to the Funeral Service Times article, “The Living Cocoon is not only 100% biodegradable, but it also enhances biodiversity. It is grown in just seven days using a combination of mycelium and upcycled hemp fibers, and it can hold up to 200kg (about 440 lbs.) while itself weighing around 30kg (about 66 lbs.). Certified by the Funeral Furnishing Manufacturer’s Association (FFMA), it is both suitable for traditional and natural burials, as well as cremation. Its rapid decomposition process ensures that the body contributes to the regeneration of the earth, rather than polluting it.”

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  As green burials grow in popularity is the mycelium casket an option for those burials?  We think so and when you look at the reasons one might prefer a green burial its use seems to make a lot of sense.  It is just another in a host of products that are coming to market that create a growing “Death Care choice Optionality” that seems to be growing world-wide.

In that thought process, the mycelium casket is another one of the growing vairety of product that your funeral home should either have on hand or know how to acquire in a short period of time if or when it may be requested by a family.

An American mycelium company — Here’s a 2024 news video and article from Fox 43 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, about a mycelium based casket company operating in the United States.

• The Setas Eternal Rest mycelium casket company website

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