What I Learned as an Outsider at a Funeral Convention
What I Learned as an Outsider at a Funeral Convention
Mushroom Urns and a New International Partnership
I'll be honest… when I registered for the National Funeral Directors Association Convention in Chicago this past October, I wasn't sure what to expect. As the co-founder of a memorial tree company, I'm not exactly a traditional player in the deathcare industry. My badge limited my access mostly to the exhibit hall, and I wondered if I'd stick out like a sore thumb among funeral professionals who've been doing this work for decades.
Maybe a little of both! The atmosphere was surprisingly warm and welcoming. Turns out, people who devote their careers to helping families through their hardest moments tend to be pretty thoughtful humans. Go figure.
But let me tell you about the real highlight of my time there.
A Booth That Stopped Me in My Tracks
Among hundreds of exhibitors, one booth made me do a double-take: Loop Biotech, a small company from Delft, Netherlands, that's doing something genuinely remarkable. They grow urns and coffins from mushrooms. Yes, you read that right - grow them.
Using mycelium (the root structure of mushrooms) combined with upcycled hemp fibers, Loop Biotech creates fully biodegradable burial products in just seven days. When buried, they decompose in approximately 45 days, actively enriching the soil rather than polluting it. This isn't just eco-friendly marketing speak - TIME Magazine named their Living Cocoon one of the Best Inventions of 2025 in sustainability.
Now, for those unfamiliar with Treebute, we consider ourselves an alternative to urns. One of our mantras has always been to help people "get their ashes off the shelf" and into something living and lasting - a memorial tree that grows alongside the memories. So when I saw Loop's approach, something clicked.
A mushroom urn? This is different.
Why This Partnership Makes Sense
Here's the thing about traditional urns: they're designed to preserve ashes indefinitely. Beautiful? Often. Meaningful? Absolutely. But for many families, there comes a point when keeping ashes on a shelf starts to feel... incomplete. Like there's another step waiting to happen.
Loop's mushroom pet urns offer something that aligns naturally with what we do at Treebute. Their products don't just contain ashes - they return a loved one to the earth. The urn biodegrades, the nutrients enrich the soil, and new life has a chance to flourish. That's the same philosophy behind planting a memorial tree with cremated remains.
So, I'm pleased to announce that Treebute will be featuring Loop Biotech's fully biodegradable mushroom pet urns as an optional add-on to our Treebute Kits.
Loop’s pet urn is called Loop FurEver™. It’s designed to be kept at home as a natural object or planted in your garden, and it comes in two sizes (0.5L and 1.5L) to fit different pets.
Why This Matters for Pet Memorials
If you're reading this, there's a good chance you understand how deeply we love our pets. They're family, full stop. And when we lose them, the question of what to do with their ashes can weigh heavily.
Here's why we think Loop's mushroom urns resonate with so many pet families:
- They complete the circle. Rather than keeping ashes in a container indefinitely, you're returning your companion to the earth in a way that supports new growth. Pair this with a Treebute memorial tree kit, and you've created a living tribute that honors their memory for years to come.
- They're gentle on the planet. Made entirely from mycelium and hemp fibers - no plastics, no metals, no synthetic materials. Just nature, designed to work with nature.
- The next step that doesn’t feel too final. Scattering can feel like a goodbye you’re not ready to say. Keeping ashes in a box can feel like you’re stuck. A plantable urn creates a gentle “third option”: a meaningful action, at your own pace.
- They feel right. There's something comforting about holding a Loop urn. It's surprisingly soft, almost velvety. It feels less like a container and more like a thoughtful goodbye.
Our First International Partnership
We're genuinely excited about this collaboration. Loop Biotech has already helped over 2,500 families in Europe create meaningful, sustainable farewells, and watching them expand into the North American market has been inspiring. This is Treebute's first international partnership, and we couldn't have found a better fit.
If you've been holding onto your pet's ashes, wondering what comes next, maybe this is your sign. A mushroom urn. A memorial tree. A place to visit, to remember, to watch grow.
We'd love to hear your thoughts. Would a mushroom urn feel comforting to you? Curious?
A little weird (in the best way)? Tell us. Or explore our new mushroom urn option when you order your next Treebute.