{
  "id": 6054374,
  "title": "Ashes to ashes, mushrooms to dust: a very green goodbye",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/ashes-to-ashes-mushrooms-to-dust-a-very-green-goodbye",
  "topic": null,
  "section": null,
  "published": "2026-09-06T19:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://thecourier.com.au/story/9344863/ashes-to-ashes-mushrooms-to-dust-a-very-green-goodbye"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "When Sydney resident Carolyn passed away, her family searched for a burial method that mirrored her life. The 70-year-old became the first Australian to be interred in a mycelium coffin - the underground network of mushrooms. This means her coffin would become part of the earth post-burial, nourishing the soil.\n\nCarolyn's husband, Donald, expressed satisfaction with her choice, stating it was fitting that even after her death, she could contribute positively to nature. The unique coffin, also constructed from repurposed hemp fibers, was cultivated in a lab in the Netherlands by Loop Biotech. The inventor, Bob Hendrixx, developed the idea as part of a university project. He noted the process took seven days to grow and roughly 45 days to fully integrate with the soil.\n\nFive years ago, such a concept was merely a theoretical idea at Delft University of Technology. Hendrixx expressed his delight at witnessing the first Australian family choose the coffin for their loved one.\n\nThis burial marks a growing trend of individuals seeking eco-friendly methods for their final rites. Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich introduced a bill in June proposing human composting in New South Wales. The process involves placing a body in a vessel with organic materials like wood chips and straw. Microbes break down the remains over several weeks, transforming them into organic matter that can be used for reforestation, soil regeneration, or memorial plantings.\n\nAsha Dooley, Carolyn's funeral director from Grace Funerals, observed an increasing demand for sustainable burial options among families. Five years ago, such inquiries were rare, she said. Today, they are regularly consulted by those wishing to honor their loved one's life in their final farewell.\n\nCarolyn's close friend, Christine, remarked on the peculiar yet poignant sight of her resting on a bed of moss, feeling as though she was already merging with the earth. This marks an \"almost whimsical\" transformation, she shared, as Carolyn becomes one with the natural world.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}