Trees are often planted in memory of a lost loved one, so it is only natural that a company would create a series of burial pods that would make this even more of a common practice. These burial pods are essentially unique, biodegradable coffins that feature the seed of a chosen tree on top. Once 'planted,' a graveyard of trees would be born, rather than one of tombstones.
Conceived by Italian company Capsula Mundi, the burial pods are made out of starch plastic. The body itself would take on a fetal position within the burial pods and together they would decompose to provide rich fertilizer for the tree to reach its full growth. A beautiful idea, they would essentially result in memory forests that provide a living reminder of the person being honored.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Eco-friendly Burial Pods
- Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Develop biodegradable burial pods that can be customized with various types of seeds to grow different types of trees, creating personalized memory forests.
- Starch Plastic
- Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Explore the use of starch plastic as a sustainable alternative material in various industries, such as food packaging, disposable cutlery, and agricultural applications.
- Memory Forests
- Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Create innovative ways to establish and manage memory forests, including using technology to track tree growth, enable online dedications, and preserve digital memories of loved ones.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Funeral Services
- Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: In the funeral services industry, develop eco-friendly burial alternatives, such as burial pods and memory forests, to meet the growing demand for sustainable and meaningful funeral practices.
- Plastics Manufacturing
- Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Within the plastics manufacturing industry, explore the development of biodegradable plastics, like starch plastic, to address environmental concerns and reduce reliance on traditional non-biodegradable plastics.
- Technology and Virtual Memorials
- Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Combine technology and memorial services to create virtual memorials, digital platforms, and interactive experiences that enable people to remember and honor their loved ones in new ways.
