Loop Biotech

– Biodegradable Mycelium Urns

Loop Biotech is a Netherlands-based bio-design company founded by Bob Hendrikx and Lonneke Westhoff.
Their mission is simple yet profound: to give life back to nature.
By combining mycelium – the root network of fungi – with discarded plant fibers, the company creates fully biodegradable funeral products that transform the end of life into a sustainable cycle of renewal.

Product Line

Loop Biotech’s products redefine the funeral industry through living materials:

  • Living Cocoon™ – An oval mycelium coffin grown from hemp and plant fibers; lightweight, soft, and organic in shape.
  • ForestBed™ – A “natural resting bed” inspired by forest ecosystems, covered with moss to evoke a sense of returning to the earth
  • EarthRise™ – A mycelium urn that includes a planting compartment, allowing a tree or flower to sprout from the ashes and continue the cycle of life.
new-living-cocoon

After Burial – Decomposition & Regeneration

Once buried, the product reactivates in contact with soil moisture and microbes.
 Within roughly 45 days, the mycelium container fully decomposes.
 The remains merge with the surrounding soil, enriching it and supporting new plant growth—literally turning death into new life.

Growth & Fabrication Process

Mixing: Local mycelium strains are blended with hemp or sawdust fibers.

Molding: The mixture is placed into custom molds.

Growth: Within ≈ 7 days the material “grows” into a solid form.

Drying: Heat treatment halts growth, stabilizing the structure.

Environmental & Social Impact

  • Zero Pollution: No metals, plastics, or toxic dyes—no soil or groundwater contamination.
  • Fast Decomposition: 45 days vs. decades for traditional coffins; human remains decompose naturally within 2–3 years.
  • Lower Cost: Retail price ≈ USD $1,700–$4,000 (compared to $2,500 + for conventional coffins).
  • Emotional Comfort: Soft textures and curved forms provide a warm, human touch to the farewell ritual.

Global Adoption

  • Europe: Expanded from the Netherlands to the UK, certified by the Funeral Furniture Manufacturers Association (FFMA) in 2025.
  • North America: The first U.S. eco-burial using a mycelium coffin took place in Maine (2025), marking its growing social acceptance.

Design Philosophy

Loop Biotech reimagines burial as a part of nature’s continuous cycle rather than its end.
 By merging biodesign with emotional experience, the company proposes a new ritual of return—
 one that is ecological, compassionate, and beautifully alive.

“We give life back to nature.” — Loop Biotech

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