Bye-Bye Coffins! These Organic Burial Pods Will Turn You Into A Tree When You Die

Coffins, tombstones and normal funeral proceedings are so last year…. This unconventional way of being buried might just be the future. This unique burial method originated in Italy and is titled The Capsula Mundi project created by designers Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel. The designers created an organic, biodegradable burial capsule that actually transforms the body of the deceased into a tree. As this occurs, the body would turn into nutrients for the tree that would allow it to grow.

It basically works like this… first the body is encapsulated in a fetal position and then buried, and either a tree seed or an actual tree is planted above the capsule. You would even pick the type of tree you want to become, just as you would get to choose your very own coffin for a normal funeral.

DIAGRAM OF THE CONCEPT

THE CAPSULE IS MADE FROM A STARCH PLASTIC WHICH IS 100% BIODEGRADABLE

THE CAPSULE WOULD THEN BE PLANTED IN SOIL LIKE A SEED

The pods are made from a starch plastic which does not prevent the natural decomposition of the capsule and allows the organic matter to transform into minerals, that will provide the earth with nutrients for vegetative organisms. Essentially, these pods will transform cemeteries in forests.

HERE’S THE PROCESS

ONCE THE PODS AND TREES ARE PLANTED, IT’S CREATES A “MEMORY FOREST.”

This is actually still a concept since Italian law prohibits this sort of burial – but if it does proceed, there would be an entire memorial park of trees rather than tombstones. You would then be able to visit and care for the tree of your loved one. There are actually places in the US and in England where this type of burial is legal… we’ll just have to wait and see if this catches on in other places around the world.

YOUR LOVED ONES WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR TREE

JUST IMAGINE HOW DIFFERENT FUNERALS WOULD BE

ON DISPLAY AT JAFFA, ISRAEL

You can check out more from this project over at their Facebook page. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below and if you found this interesting don’t forget to give this a like and a share with your friends on Facebook before you go. (h/t boredpanda) (photos via: capsulamundi.it)