Evig

Project information

The project investigates future burial practices connected to cremation and explores how funeral products can become more sustainable while still respecting existing rituals, laws and emotional values. The background of the project is rooted in the increasing use of cremation in Sweden and the environmental and spatial challenges connected to current burial systems. Existing solutions are often limited in terms of sustainability, material choices and opportunities for personal memorial experiences. The project therefore explored how cremation ashes could be integrated into more circular, nature-based and emotionally supportive systems. The work focused on values such as sustainability, dignity, peacefulness and the feeling of security. Though collaboration with cemetery staff, funeral professionals and users, the project aimed to balance practical requirements with emotional and symbolic qualities. The final concept proposes a new relationship between memorialization, material decay and nature's ecological cycles. 

Methods

The project combined quantitative research, workshops, interviews, concept development, prototyping and iterative evaluations. Initial research investigated Swedish funeral practices, cemetery systems, cremation process, legislation and sustainable materials. Workshops explored emotional connections to memory, nature and future funeral rituals through speculative scenarios. Several design directions were explored, including architectural systems, biological materials, interactive memorials and new burial structures. These directions were evaluated through methods such as four field matrices and kesselring analysis, focusing on product feasibility, material efficiency, emotional response and practical implementation. 

Collaboration with representatives from Svenska kyrkan played a central role throughout the process. Feedback sessions with both cemetery professionals and users helped evaluate the concepts in relation to current funeral practices and public acceptance. Physical prototypes, digital modelling and form studies were used to develop the final concept. Special attention was given to production methods, volume efficiency, handling within crematorium systems and compatibility with existing burial procedures. 

Result

The final result is Evig, a biodegradable urn made from mycelium composite. Mycelium is the root-like network of fungi that naturally binds organic materials together and contributes to decomposition and nutrient exchange in ecosystems. The material is produced from organic waste such as sawdust or hemp combined with mycelium. After growth in controlled environments, the urn is heat-treated to stabilize the structure while remaining biodegradable. Over time, the urn naturally reintegrates into the soil without harmful environmental impact. 

The urn is designed as a cylindric shape with soft edges and detachable egg-shaped elements connected to the main body. Before burial, these elements are removed and given to relatives, who can plant them in meaningful locations as symbolic memorial objects. This creates multiple places of remembrance and allows emotional connections to exist beyond the cemetery itself. 

The project demonstrates how funeral products can combine sustainability, symbolism and emotional value while remaining compatible with contemporary cremation practices and burial systems