A burial is often described as a return to the earth.

Traditional coffins, however, have metal fasteners and synthetic finishes that will linger for years and leach into the soil. Even greener versions made with bare wood and rope handles still take a long time to decompose.

That is not the case with a new casket option available through Lougheed Funeral Homes. The Living Cocoon, developed by a company in the Netherlands, is grown from mushrooms, lined with moss, and will biodegrade in less than two months.

“It’s truly one of a kind,” said Jeff Shrigely, funeral director at Lougheed. “There’s no wood, no plastics, no chemicals. It’s just mushrooms and fibres that they have been able to put together. You could call it different but the word I keep using is unique.”

Mount Pleasant Group

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