The final goodbye

A Green Goodbye: 3 Environmentally Friendly Coffins

2 September 2015 by Monica Ruiz

There's an austere beauty to most coffins and caskets, making them a fitting final resting place for your loved one when the time comes. The basic look of coffins and caskets has not changed for centuries, and even the materials used has not really changed over the years—until recently. While funeral directors will be able to offer you a wide selection of traditional coffins to suit any budget, there are also a few environmentally friendly options available. Depending on your loved one's wishes or their sensibilities during life, you might want to consider one of these greener options. They're a little different to traditional coffins, but are lovely in their own way—both in the way they look and their environmental benefits.

Cardboard

A cardboard coffin doesn't sound particularly sturdy, but this could not be further from the case. It's not simply a box, and cardboard coffins are made from recycled cardboard which are then treated and reinforced, resulting in a product that looks and feels just like a traditional coffin. The production process results in less greenhouse gases than building a wooden coffin from scratch, and the cardboard begins to biodegrade shortly after burial. They cost far less than a wooden coffin and can be personalised. The production process allows for something important to the deceased to be printed on the actual coffin—perhaps a photo or symbol that was particularly important to them.

Bamboo and Banana Leaf

Coffins made from bamboo or banana leaves are visually striking and are as unique as the personality of the person whose remains they now hold. Most bamboo and banana leaf coffins are painstakingly woven by hand and yet are still less expensive than their traditional counterparts. The base of the coffin is reinforced with a piece of wood that ensures the structural integrity of the coffin during transportation and funeral services. These coffins are made from renewable forests and use far less raw materials than other coffins. Like a cardboard coffin, they will begin to biodegrade shortly after burial.

Recycled Timber

If you prefer a traditional looking coffin that still manages to be environmentally friendly, you can obtain a coffin made from recycled timber. Although only slightly cheaper than a standard coffin, they are still a way to reduce the cost of the funeral. Selection can be slightly problematic, as you're limited by the types of wood that the manufacturer has been able to source. These coffins are typically finished with an environmentally friendly lacquer that results in a glossy finish. The end result is indistinguishable from a standard coffin.

So if your loved one had strong environmental convictions, perhaps one of these coffins would be suitable. Your loved one would have been happy to know that they were able to help the environment, even after they've passed away. So talk with a funeral director, such as those from Tony Hollands Funerals, and discuss these and other options available to have an environmentally friendly funeral.

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