Goodbye to funeral with a coffin

In the future, an innovative idea may allow people to become trees after death through an organic burial process. This concept comes from Italian designers Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel, who created the Capsula Mundi project, a sustainable alternative to traditional funerals.

Instead of costly and elaborate burial customs, their design uses a biodegradable capsule that holds the deceased in a fetal position. Once buried, the capsule provides nourishment for a tree planted above it.

Rather than a tombstone, a tree or seed marks the burial site. Each person can choose the type of tree they wish to become, just as they would select a coffin in a traditional funeral. As the body naturally decomposes, it enriches the soil and supports the growth of the chosen tree.

The designers’ goal is not only to create an eco-friendly burial method but also to transform cemeteries into living forests filled with trees instead of gravestones. These green spaces would serve as peaceful memorials, connecting families to nature while honoring their loved ones.

While Capsula Mundi originated in Italy, it faces legal restrictions there, especially from the Vatican, which holds strict views on burial practices.

However, the idea has gained support internationally, particularly in the United States and England, where such burials are legal and growing in popularity.

Ultimately, the project represents a new philosophy of life and death, blending ecological awareness with remembrance. It envisions a world where the end of life gives birth to new life through the growth of trees.