A Sydney woman in her 70s has become the first person in Australia to be buried in a coffin made from mushrooms, in what organisers say is a growing move towards environmentally friendly funerals.
Carolyn, whose surname was withheld at her family’s request, was buried at Springwood Cemetery in the Blue Mountains after a funeral service in Faulconbridge, New South Wales.
The coffin was developed by Dutch company Loop Biotech and is made from mycelium, the root-like network of mushrooms, combined with hemp fibres from agricultural waste. The coffin takes about a week to grow and can be absorbed into the soil in around 45 days, compared with decades for traditional wooden coffins.
Her husband, Donald, said the eco-friendly coffin reflected Carolyn’s values and allowed her to continue giving back to nature even after her death. Funeral director Asha Dooley said more Australians are seeking environmentally sustainable funeral options as attitudes towards death and the environment change.
Experts say interest in eco-friendly funerals is increasing as fewer Australians identify with organised religion. Other alternatives being considered include human composting and alkaline hydrolysis, while a bill has been introduced in New South Wales to legalise human composting.
