Mushroom Burial Suits — Eco-Friendly Burial Innovation
For Canadians interested in eco-friendly burial options, mushroom burial suits represent one innovation in the broader green burial movement. Availability in Canada is limited but growing.
What is a mushroom burial suit
A biodegradable garment, typically cotton or silk fabric, infused with mycelium (mushroom roots) and fungal spores. Worn at burial in place of conventional clothing. The fungi are intended to aid decomposition and proponents claim help break down environmental toxins that accumulate in the body during life.
The science behind the claims
Mycoremediation — using fungi to break down environmental toxins — is real science. Fungi can degrade some hydrocarbons, pesticides, and heavy metals.
Application to human burial — less well-studied. Specific claims about the suits' ability to neutralize the deceased's toxin load are not well-validated in published research.
What's clear:
- Suits are biodegradable
- Body decomposes naturally regardless of suit
- Suits don't impede natural processes
Less clear:
- Specific toxin-neutralization claims
- Comparative benefit over plain biodegradable shroud
- Long-term ecological impact
The suit's main practical function is biodegradability and the philosophical/aesthetic appeal of return to nature.
How they came to prominence
Mushroom burial suits gained widespread attention in 2019 when the family of actor Luke Perry chose a Coeio Infinity Burial Suit for his burial. The story was widely covered and brought green burial options to mainstream awareness.
Where things stand now: Coeio's own website no longer shows an active storefront, and independent coverage since has been unable to confirm the company is still reliably taking orders. Families interested specifically in a mushroom burial suit should treat availability as uncertain rather than assume one can be ordered on short notice.
Availability in Canada
The original suit — uncertain:
- Coeio's storefront appears inactive; sourcing the original Infinity Burial Suit today is not guaranteed
- An eco-burial specialist or green burial cemetery may be able to confirm whether any current supplier exists
- Don't assume a suit can be ordered quickly for an imminent burial
A currently available Canadian alternative:
- The Loop Living Cocoon — a coffin (not a suit) grown from mycelium and hemp fibre in about seven days — is offered by Mount Pleasant Group at its Meadowvale Cemetery, Funeral and Cremation Centre in the Toronto area, the first Canadian provider to carry it.[3]
- Designed to biodegrade quickly and pairs with green burial practices
Cost:
- Historical Coeio suit pricing: roughly $1,500 USD plus shipping (may no longer be current)
- Loop Living Cocoon: roughly $3,750 plus HST (Mount Pleasant Group)
- Both compare to a mid-to-upper-range traditional casket ($1,500-15,000), plus standard funeral and cemetery costs
Where to be buried in one
Green burial cemeteries that don't require vaults are the natural fit:
- Royal Oak Burial Park (Saanich BC) — Canadian pioneer
- Mount Pleasant (Toronto) — green burial section
- Various others — green burial sections developing across Canada
- Some First Nations cemeteries — traditional protocols often green-burial-aligned
Traditional cemeteries with vault requirements typically don't accommodate.
The broader green burial movement
Mushroom suits are one option in green burial:
Common green burial elements:
- No embalming
- Biodegradable casket (often pine, cardboard, or wicker) or shroud
- No concrete vault
- Native plant restoration over manicured lawn
- Often unmarked or natural stone marker
- Body returns to earth naturally
Canadian green burial:
- Green Burial Society of Canada coordinates
- Multiple cemeteries have green sections
- Growing interest, particularly in BC
Specific alternatives to mushroom suit:
- Plain cotton or linen shroud
- Cardboard casket
- Wicker or willow casket
- Pine casket (unfinished, biodegradable)
- Family-made shroud
Environmental comparison
Traditional burial: Embalming chemicals, concrete vault, hardwood casket, cemetery maintenance.
Cremation: Significant CO2 emissions (~245 kg), mercury from dental fillings, fossil fuel use.
Green burial (with or without mushroom suit): Lower carbon, no chemicals, land use, native plant restoration.
Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis): Lower energy than flame cremation, no emissions, limited Canadian availability.
Each has trade-offs; specific environmental analysis depends on values and assumptions.
Practical considerations
Discussion with funeral provider: Specialty in eco-burial; specific supplier relationships; experience with handling.
Cemetery acceptance: Confirm with chosen cemetery before purchasing suit.
Family preparation: Some families participate in dressing the deceased in the suit; specific protocols may apply.
Timing: Suit needs to be ready when needed; order in advance if possible.
What we focus on at It's Simple Will
The Funeral Pre-Planner captures specific funeral preferences including eco-burial options, biodegradable shroud, green burial cemetery preferences.
Related guides
Citations & sources
- [1]Green Burial Society of Canada — Green Burial Society of Canada
- [2]Royal Oak Burial Park — Royal Oak Burial Park
- [3]Mount Pleasant Group Becomes First in Canada to Offer Mushroom-Grown Coffins and Urns from Loop Biotech — Mount Pleasant Group
Frequently asked questions
Do mushroom burial suits actually work?
The premise — mycelium aids decomposition and may help break down environmental toxins. Scientific evidence is mixed; mycoremediation (using fungi to clean toxins) is real but specifics for human burial are less well-studied. Decomposition happens regardless; the suit's main function is biodegradability and aesthetic/philosophical appeal.
Are they available in Canada?
Uncertain for the original Infinity Burial Suit — Coeio's own website no longer shows an active storefront, so families shouldn't count on ordering one on short notice. A related, currently available Canadian option is the mycelium-grown Loop Living Cocoon coffin, offered through Mount Pleasant Group in the Toronto area. For a burial suit specifically, ask an eco-burial specialist or green burial cemetery whether any supplier can source one before assuming it's an option.
What does one cost?
Historical pricing for the Coeio suit was roughly $1,500 USD plus shipping for the suit alone, though that figure may no longer be current given the company's uncertain status. The Loop Living Cocoon coffin runs roughly $3,750 plus HST through Mount Pleasant Group. Compare either to a traditional casket ($1,500-15,000) plus standard funeral and cemetery costs.
Where can I be buried in one?
Green burial cemeteries that don't require vaults — Royal Oak Burial Park (Saanich BC), some sections of Mount Pleasant (Toronto), various other green burial sections developing across Canada. Traditional cemeteries requiring vaults often don't accommodate.
What's the broader green burial movement?
A return to simpler burial — no embalming, biodegradable casket or shroud, no vault, native plant restoration over manicured lawn. Multiple Canadian cemeteries have introduced green burial sections. Reduces environmental impact compared to traditional burial.
How does this compare to traditional cremation environmentally?
Cremation has significant CO2 emissions (~245 kg per cremation) and mercury from dental fillings. Mushroom suit burial in green cemetery has lower carbon footprint but uses land. Both have trade-offs; specific environmental analysis is complex.