Eco Coffins?
Normally I would stay away from writing about death and gloom, however, it is Halloween and I think the business idea is great.
Death is a tough subject and many of us squirm away and choose not to think about it or even talk about it. I am in that category and try to avoid thinking about the topic as much as possible. However, I can appreciate a great eco-business opportunity and can look past the gloom. (For those who want to skip this post, I totally understand)
I came across Eco Coffins Ltd. when I was searching for the latest eco news. I found an article at the Cambridge News Online website, Brightening up that final journey.
Co-founders Sophie and Ben Dansie have teamed up with Rev Peter Owen Jones, pastor and presenter of the BBC’s show, The Battle for Britain’s Soul. The team at Eco Coffin wanted to provide people with an alternative to the normal coffins people are typically buried in. There idea - create a biodegradable coffin decorated with poppies and a blue sky on the lid.
The coffins are made in East Anglia from 90 per cent reinforced, recycled honeycombed paper and is very strong and is exceptionally light. Eco Coffins are not expensive, when compared with traditional coffins. Eco Coffins’ basic “natural range” costs £280 plus delivery anywhere in the UK, comes in white or wood effect and includes a white cotton shroud in place of the plastic lining in most contemporary coffins. The “creative range” has five designs featuring either ivy leaves, or the poppies and sky combination, or a seascape for £600.
“And for £800, you can have it customised just how you like - one family chose a montage of photos of a dear departed granny from the ages of eight to 88. For that price, a couple of designers will spend three days on a unique design, printed in biodegradable ink, naturally.”
According to the article there are 600,000 funerals a year in the UK and 80 per cent of people depart life in wood-veneer chipboard coffins, with plastic lining and plastic brass-effect handles. That is a lot of non-biodegradable material going into the ground!
The company is currently a small-based company that serves its local area and community. They have their sights on growing the business further. Perhaps you will start seeing other companies across North America offering similar products and services.
Eco Coffins website
Technorati Tags: eco coffins, eco business, UK funerals, green funerals, green business, eco entrepreneurship
Written by steve on October 31st, 2006 with
2 comments.
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#1. November 4th, 2006, at 6:22 PM.
Dear Sherpa,
Bless you for including us in your latest news.
We are delighted that you have found us!
At the moment we are sending our coffins all over the U.K, and are trying to sort out transport links in the most environmentally accountable way to Australia and California.
Any feedback that you may get would be gratefully received.
All the best and many thanks to you!
Sophie