Bob Hendrikx Designed an Eco-Friendly Coffin Called the 'Living Cocoon'
Riley von Niessen — September 16, 2020 — Art & Design
References: dezeen
Bob Hendrikx, a TU Delft researcher, has unveiled a new coffin design called the 'Living Cocoon' that allows the decreased to benefit the environment that they're buried in, rather than cause harm to it.
The coffin is made from mycelium: the vegetative component of fungus that can form mushroom colonies found in soil. In addition to allowing the coffin to grow into the environment, the clever use of mycelium helps to compost the body. As a result, the Living Cocoon helps to generate a rich environment that promotes the growth of new plants.
As Dezeen explains, the "coffin takes one week to grow and then, containing the body of the deceased, takes an estimated two to three years to decompose. In comparison, conventional coffin burials take over ten years to break down in the earth."
Image Credit: Bob Hendrikx / Dezeen
The coffin is made from mycelium: the vegetative component of fungus that can form mushroom colonies found in soil. In addition to allowing the coffin to grow into the environment, the clever use of mycelium helps to compost the body. As a result, the Living Cocoon helps to generate a rich environment that promotes the growth of new plants.
As Dezeen explains, the "coffin takes one week to grow and then, containing the body of the deceased, takes an estimated two to three years to decompose. In comparison, conventional coffin burials take over ten years to break down in the earth."
Image Credit: Bob Hendrikx / Dezeen
Trend Themes
1. Eco-friendly Burial - The Living Cocoon provides a new solution for environmentally sustainable funeral practices by utilizing mycelium to create a completely biodegradable coffin.
2. Mycelium Technology - The increasing use of mycelium in product design, such as the Living Cocoon, offers opportunities for innovation and sustainable solutions in various industries.
3. Biodegradable Materials - The trend towards using biodegradable materials, like mycelium, to replace traditional products not only helps the environment, but also provides new business opportunities for industries seeking to innovate and become more sustainable.
Industry Implications
1. Funeral Services - The Living Cocoon and other environmentally-friendly burial practices offer opportunities for the funeral services industry to differentiate themselves and appeal to consumers seeking sustainable options.
2. Sustainability - The use of mycelium in the Living Cocoon highlights the potential for biodegradable materials to be used in other products and industries seeking to become more sustainable.
3. Product Design - The innovative use of mycelium to create the Living Cocoon highlights the potential for biodegradable materials to be used in a variety of product designs and offers opportunities for companies looking to disrupt traditional industries and provide more sustainable alternatives.
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