Most families don’t discover the “mushroom suit” because they were shopping for a trend. They find it in the middle of a late-night spiral—trying to make an impossible moment feel a little more aligned with their values. If you’re here, you might be planning ahead for yourself, or you might be carrying the weight of funeral planning after a death and hoping to choose something that feels gentle on the earth.
The good news is that the idea behind the “mushroom suit” is real. The complicated news is that the internet has turned it into something it’s not: a universal, plug-and-play solution that works anywhere, requires no special permissions, and magically “turns you into a tree” in a guaranteed way. Real green burial choices are often simpler than viral posts suggest, but they also come with practical rules—cemetery policies, timing constraints, and the basic reality that bodies are cared for under state and local requirements.
This guide will sort fact from fiction, explain what the suit is designed to do, and help you understand how it fits into natural burial rules. And because eco-minded families often compare several paths at once, we’ll also connect the dots to other common choices—like cremation and the very real decisions that follow, including cremation urns, cremation jewelry, and keeping ashes at home.
What the “mushroom suit” actually is
When people say “mushroom suit burial,” they’re usually referring to the Infinity Burial Suit, a garment concept associated with the company Coeio and the Infinity Burial Project. The basic claim is not fantasy: the suit is designed to include fungi (and other microorganisms) intended to support decomposition and help address toxins that can be present in the body. That framing—supporting natural processes rather than preserving or sealing the body away—is consistent with how many people think about green burial today. Explanations of the concept have been covered in mainstream science writing, including HowStuffWorks, and it’s also discussed within educational resources focused on greener death care, such as The Order of the Good Death.
What matters, practically, is this: the “mushroom suit” is not a replacement for a cemetery, permits, or the legal steps of burial. It is one biodegradable approach to clothing or shrouding the body—an approach that may be compatible with certain green burial grounds and incompatible with others. Green burial is less about one product and more about a whole set of choices: avoiding embalming when possible, using biodegradable materials, and choosing a cemetery that allows direct earth interment. The National Funeral Directors Association describes green burial in these terms: direct interment without a vault or metal casket, using biodegradable materials, with the goal of natural decomposition. In other words, the suit is a “how” inside a bigger “where” and “under what rules.”
What the “mushroom suit” is not
Let’s clear away the most common myths, gently and directly.
Myth: It’s legal everywhere, no questions asked
In most places, there isn’t a single law that bans “mushroom suits” as a category. The bigger gatekeeper is almost always the cemetery. Many conventional cemeteries require a vault or liner, or require a rigid container for grave maintenance. Even if a cemetery makes it sound like “the law,” it may be their policy. Green and natural burial grounds are more likely to allow biodegradable shrouds or garments, but their rules still vary. One grounded way to think about legality is: “Does the cemetery I’m using allow direct earth burial with biodegradable materials, and do they have any container requirements?” That’s the practical question that determines whether a suit can be used.
Myth: It guarantees a faster, cleaner decomposition in every setting
Decomposition depends on many factors: soil type, moisture, temperature, burial depth, and whether the body is enclosed in ways that limit air and microbial activity. A biodegradable garment may be compatible with green burial, but it can’t override the realities of the environment. Think of it like planting: good intentions matter, but the conditions still decide what happens.
Myth: Buying the suit is the main cost
Families sometimes see a viral price tag and assume that’s the full “green burial cost.” In real life, the plot, opening and closing fees, transport, permits, and the timing requirements for unembalmed care often shape the total. The suit (or shroud) is only one line item among several.
How it fits into green burial rules
If you want the simplest, most reliable standard to follow, look at how green burial is defined by certification bodies and by the cemetery you plan to use. The Green Burial Council provides widely referenced standards for cemeteries and for burial products. Their product certification standard includes guidance that certified caskets, urns, and shrouds should be made from natural, plant-derived, animal, recycled plant-derived, or unfired earthen materials. You can see that material-based framework in the GBC’s published standards documents, including their burial product certification standard.
This is why many green burial conversations quickly shift away from “Is a mushroom suit real?” and toward “What is the garment made of, and does the burial ground accept it?” Even an eco product that sounds perfect can be rejected if it contains synthetic blends, finishes, plastic components, or anything that conflicts with a cemetery’s rules.
If you’re new to this, Funeral.com’s green burial guide can help you understand the basics—what green burial typically avoids (like vaults and embalming when possible) and what it prioritizes (biodegradable materials and direct earth interment). For families comparing garments, a practical companion is Funeral.com’s burial shrouds explainer, which breaks down materials, common requirements, and the ways cemetery policy shapes what’s possible.
Where families get surprised: availability and logistics
Here’s what often catches families off guard. In a conventional funeral system, products are designed to work almost anywhere: a standard casket fits a standard cemetery requirement, and embalming plus a sealed container can stretch timing. Green burial works differently. If you’re planning a burial with biodegradable clothing, the timeline may be tighter, the transport details matter more, and the cemetery selection is not optional—it’s foundational.
Even if you do everything “right,” you may still be asked questions that feel jarring in grief: “Do you have refrigeration available?” “Is the burial within the required window?” “Does the cemetery allow shrouds only, or do they require a rigid biodegradable casket?” These questions aren’t meant to be cold. They are the practical side of keeping care safe, legal, and respectful.
If you’re planning ahead, you can make this easier on your family by documenting your wishes in plain language and naming a backup plan. Funeral.com’s guide on how to preplan a funeral is helpful for this kind of values-based planning because it separates the “roadmap” (your choices and preferences) from the “contract” (prepaid arrangements). Even if you never prepay, writing down your intent—“green burial if available, otherwise cremation with a biodegradable urn”—can spare your family confusion later.
Why cremation keeps showing up in green burial conversations
Many families who start with “mushroom suit burial” eventually ask a second question: “What if we can’t do that where we live?” This is where cremation becomes part of the conversation—not as a betrayal of eco values, but as a practical alternative when green cemetery access is limited or when family is spread across states.
In the U.S., cremation is now a majority choice. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the projected U.S. cremation rate for 2024 is 61.9%. And NFDA projects that cremation will continue rising over time; in its 2023 release, NFDA notes the U.S. cremation rate is expected to reach 81.4% by 2045. NFDA’s 2023 report summary lays out those projections.
The Cremation Association of North America adds important nuance: cremation growth is continuing, but the pace of growth has begun to slow—a “deceleration” period rather than a reversal. That kind of context matters, because it reflects what families are doing in real life: choosing cremation more often, then personalizing what happens next.
And “what happens next” is where many families need the most support. Cremation isn’t one decision. It’s a chain of decisions—especially if you’re thinking about scattering, sharing, keeping, burying, or placing ashes in water.
Connecting the dots: urns, keepsakes, and jewelry after cremation
If green burial feels right to you because it’s tangible and return-to-earth, cremation can still be approached with that same grounded intention. The difference is that cremation shifts the “container” decision into your hands: you choose how the ashes are held, shared, or returned to nature.
For families looking for a primary memorial at home, Funeral.com’s collection of cremation urns for ashes includes a wide range of materials and styles, including options that lean more natural and understated for eco-minded households. If you know you want something more compact—or you’re working with limited space—Funeral.com’s small cremation urns collection is designed for partial remains, smaller memorial shelves, or families who are sharing ashes across households.
That sharing impulse is incredibly common, and it’s one reason keepsake urns exist. A keepsake is not meant to hold “all” of someone, and it’s not a sign you loved them less. It’s a way to let more than one person keep a meaningful portion, especially when families live in different places. Funeral.com’s keepsake urns collection is built for that reality, and their practical guide to keepsake urns for ashes explains how sizes and intentions differ so you don’t order the wrong thing when you’re already overwhelmed.
For some people, jewelry feels more wearable than a shelf memorial. If that’s you, it can help to think of cremation jewelry as a “micro-keepsake” that lives with you day to day. Funeral.com’s cremation jewelry collection includes pieces designed to hold a small portion of ashes, and their cremation necklaces guide walks through how different styles hold remains and what to look for in seals and materials—because peace of mind matters.
And if your loss is a pet, you’re not alone in wanting something that feels worthy of a family member. Funeral.com’s pet urns for ashes collection includes classic designs and more personal memorial styles, including pet figurine cremation urns that honor a dog or cat with a sculptural presence. For families who want to share a small portion (or keep a second urn in another home), the pet keepsake cremation urns collection is designed for that “just enough” kind of closeness.
Keeping ashes at home, scattering, and water burial
Eco-minded families sometimes assume that if they don’t do green burial, their only alternative is scattering. But the truth is more flexible. Many families choose keeping ashes at home for a while—sometimes for years—before deciding on a final placement. If you’re wondering whether that’s normal, safe, or even legal, Funeral.com’s guide on keeping ashes at home is written for exactly that tender uncertainty. The goal is not to rush you; it’s to help you feel steady.
When you are ready for a release, there are meaningful, practical options that still align with a “return to nature” feeling. One is water burial using a biodegradable urn designed to float briefly, then sink and dissolve. Funeral.com’s article on water burial explains what families often wish they knew beforehand, including how wind and boat logistics can affect the moment. If you’re weighing land versus water, their broader guide on what to do with ashes covers etiquette and common U.S. guidelines so you can plan with fewer surprises.
Cost reality: the part families don’t want to learn the hard way
The “mushroom suit” conversation often starts as an environmental one, but it quickly becomes a budgeting one. Whether you choose green burial or cremation, the most painful surprises tend to come from fees families didn’t know to ask about: transport, permits, refrigeration, cemetery opening and closing, weekend timing, and the difference between direct services and full services.
If you’re asking how much does cremation cost, it helps to separate the cremation arrangement from the memorial decisions that follow. Funeral.com’s how much does cremation cost guide walks through common fees and what changes the total, and their average cost of cremation and an urn breakdown helps families see the full picture—service level plus memorialization choices like cremation urns, keepsake urns, or cremation necklaces.
For green burial, costs vary widely by cemetery type and region, and the “rules” can affect price: a conservation burial ground may structure fees differently than a hybrid cemetery with a green section. If you want a standards-based way to compare options, the Green Burial Council explains what its certifications require, and their published cemetery documents provide a sense of how green burial grounds define and manage their practices.
If you want the mushroom suit idea, but need something more available
You don’t have to abandon your values because a particular product isn’t realistic in your area. Many families capture the spirit of the “mushroom suit” by choosing a simpler biodegradable garment or shroud that their local green cemetery accepts. Others choose cremation and then select biodegradable options for scattering or water burial. The point is not to perform “perfect” eco-death care. The point is to make choices that feel consistent, feasible, and kind to the people who will carry out your wishes.
If you’re actively planning a green burial, it may help to write down two versions of your plan: your first-choice plan and your “if not available” plan. That single step can reduce family stress and prevent rushed decisions. Funeral.com’s how to plan a funeral guide can help you translate values into logistics, and their arrangement meeting checklist can help you walk into a planning conversation with calmer footing—especially if you’re comparing green burial, cremation, and memorial options.
How to decide with confidence: a gentle reality-check framework
When families feel torn between a viral idea and a practical plan, it usually helps to come back to three questions.
First, “What matters most to us?” For some families, it’s the environmental footprint. For others, it’s simplicity for a spouse who can’t manage complex logistics. For others, it’s having a place to visit. You’re allowed to prioritize what your family can truly carry.
Second, “What is actually available where we live?” If you have access to a certified green burial ground that accepts shrouds or biodegradable garments, a mushroom-suit-style burial may be workable. If you don’t, cremation with biodegradable memorialization options may be more realistic and still aligned with your values. The right plan is the one your family can complete without conflict or confusion.
Third, “What’s our aftercare plan?” Even green burial families often hold a memorial that includes photos, stories, and objects that anchor memory. And cremation families often need a clear answer to what happens to the ashes: will you choose cremation urns for ashes, share with keepsake urns, wear cremation jewelry, plan water burial, or start with keeping ashes at home and decide later? None of these are “more real” than the others. They are different ways of holding love.
If you’re feeling pressure to choose quickly, remember this: planning doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. It just needs to be honest, feasible, and gentle.
FAQs
-
Is the “mushroom suit” (Infinity Burial Suit) a real product?
Yes. The concept is real and has been widely discussed as an eco-focused burial garment intended to support natural decomposition processes. For background on how it’s described and why it gained attention, see HowStuffWorks and educational green death care resources like The Order of the Good Death.
-
Is a mushroom suit burial legal?
In practice, “legal” usually comes down to cemetery rules and the burial ground’s requirements, not a single nationwide law about burial clothing. Many conventional cemeteries require vaults, liners, or rigid containers, while green burial grounds may allow biodegradable shrouds or garments. Start by asking the cemetery what they permit for direct earth burial and biodegradable materials.
-
Do I need a special cemetery for a mushroom suit burial?
Often, yes. A cemetery that allows natural burial practices is more likely to accept biodegradable garments or shrouds. The Green Burial Council's certification standards and local cemetery policies can help you understand what’s accepted and why.
-
If green burial isn’t available, what eco-focused alternatives do families consider?
Many families choose cremation and then focus on what happens next: selecting cremation urns for ashes, sharing remains with keepsake urns, choosing cremation jewelry, keeping ashes at home for a time, or planning a biodegradable water burial. The most sustainable plan is one your family can carry out without stress or conflict.
-
How do I choose an urn if we decide on cremation?
Start with your “ashes plan”: will you keep all remains together, share them, scatter them, or place them in water? Then choose a primary urn (adult size) or a smaller option for sharing. Funeral.com’s guides on how to choose a cremation urn and keepsake urns can help you match size, material, and placement to what your family actually wants to do.
