The world’s first 'living coffin', crafted from mushrooms, is now on offer at a South London funeral home. A game-changing, eco-friendly option that lets you leave behind more than just memories; it's a literal return to nature.

English funeral home, Poetic Endings, has become the first in the UK to offer a groundbreaking (forgive the pun) burial option.

The Loop Living Cocoon was developed in the Netherlands by Bob Hendrikx and is a world-first. He explains that the casket biodegrades in just 45 days, all while enriching the soil in its wake.

The creators call it the ‘future of burials’ with mushrooms are the key component. Forget the heavy wood and metal coffins that take decades to break down - this casket is constructed from mycelium, the root system of mushrooms.

The price tag for this eco-conscious final farewell? Just short of $1,600 (approx. GBP 1,250). While that’s a bit steeper than your typical coffin, Louise at Poetic Endings is quick to highlight the bigger picture. She points out that this isn’t just a burial - it’s an opportunity to leave a lasting, positive mark on the environment. For those who want their legacy to be more green than grief, it’s a small price to pay for a life that keeps on giving back to the earth.

Cremation has long been considered the modern go-to alternative to burial, especially in busy cities where space is at a premium.

“Looking purely at the ecological footprint, cremation has a bigger impact than burial,” he says. “Our goal is to get as close to nature as possible by composting bodies naturally. The mushroom coffin helps the body return to the earth in a way that actively benefits the local environment.”

Two thousand people have already chosen to rest in a mushroom coffin, and the trend is picking up steam globally! It seems like more and more folks are embracing this green revolution, proving that even in death, we can go out in style and sustainability. The future of burials is definitely looking a whole lot more... natural.