Not everyone wants a traditional send-off
Outside The Box Caskets are for people who want something different:
Simple, sustainable, and personal.
Simple, sustainable, and personal.
Made in New Zealand from 100% biodegradable, recycled cardboard. No plastic. No metal. No MDF. Just clean design, honest materials, and a lighter footprint on the planet.
Outside The Box Caskets: Sustainable Cardboard Caskets & Coffins – NZ
Honouring you, honouring the earth
We are all trying to minimise our impact on the planet by being mindful about the waste we create. But what about when we die?
We designed Outside The Box Caskets so you can leave a legacy, not a footprint.
Our cardboard caskets are 100% biodegradable, made from sustainable and recyclable materials.
Our cardboard caskets contain no plastic, no metal, and no nasties, just a kinder, more sustainable option than traditional timber or MDF caskets and cremation boxes.
We designed Outside The Box Caskets so you can leave a legacy, not a footprint.
Our cardboard caskets are 100% biodegradable, made from sustainable and recyclable materials.
Our cardboard caskets contain no plastic, no metal, and no nasties, just a kinder, more sustainable option than traditional timber or MDF caskets and cremation boxes.
Truly Personal and Beautiful Eco Caskets
Left to right: Fern Eco Coffin, Coastal Eco Coffin, Flower Eco Coffin, Fantail Eco Coffin, Sunflower Eco Coffin, Butterfly Eco Coffin, Starry Night Sky Eco Coffin, Hibiscus Eco Coffin, Pōhutukawa Eco Coffin. Bottom: Plain Kraft Eco Coffin.
Our handcrafted cardboard caskets are proudly designed and made in New Zealand. Each one is created with care and attention to detail. Made from 100% biodegradable, recycled cardboard, our eco caskets offer a meaningful way to honour your loved one and protect the planet.
The Story Behind the Caskets
Outside The Box Caskets was created by New Zealand designer Becs Bartells, who wanted to offer a more personal, sustainable alternative to traditional caskets.
A Unique and Personal Farewell
Outside The Box Caskets are a vibrant option for people who want something a bit different. Unlike traditional timber or MDF caskets, our cardboard caskets have a modern, distinctive style. They offer an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional caskets and cremation boxes.
Our eco caskets can be used as a blank canvas, allowing families to personalise them and create a truly unique way to honour their loved one. Whether through artwork, painting, heartfelt messages, or cherished mementos, our caskets help families craft a deeply personal tribute that celebrates their loved one’s life and individuality.
Our eco caskets can be used as a blank canvas, allowing families to personalise them and create a truly unique way to honour their loved one. Whether through artwork, painting, heartfelt messages, or cherished mementos, our caskets help families craft a deeply personal tribute that celebrates their loved one’s life and individuality.
Designed for Burial and Cremation
Our eco caskets, ashes boxes, and urns are designed for both burial and cremation, giving families the flexibility to choose a farewell that feels right for their loved one. Certified for Green Burial and cremation requirements, Outside The Box Caskets and urns provide a sustainable, heartfelt solution for any farewell.
Choose a casket that reflects care for your loved one and the world they cherished. Contact your local funeral home to learn more about our range of eco caskets and ashes urns.
Choose a casket that reflects care for your loved one and the world they cherished. Contact your local funeral home to learn more about our range of eco caskets and ashes urns.
Outside The Box Caskets are available through funeral homes nationwide across New Zealand, and are now proudly offered in Australia.
Watch the story behind Outside The Box Caskets
In this short video, designer Becs Bartells shares how her Nana’s funeral sparked the idea for a more personal and sustainable kind of casket.
In this short video, designer Becs Bartells shares how her Nana’s funeral sparked the idea for a more personal and sustainable kind of casket.
Matching Ashes Boxes/Urns
Our caskets and ashes urns, also known as ashes boxes, are available through funeral homes across New Zealand. Outside The Box Caskets are award winning, independently certified, and meet both Green Burial and cremation requirements. They can be used at funeral services with pallbearers and have been recognised for sustainable innovation, winning gold in two Australasian design awards.
Answers to Common Questions
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Are your cardboard caskets strong enough for cremation and burial?
Yes. Our caskets are certified for both cremation and natural burial in New Zealand. They’re carefully designed and engineered to be carried by pallbearers and used in funeral services. |
Where can I get one of your caskets?
Outside The Box Caskets and matching ashes urns are available through funeral homes across New Zealand. Just ask your local funeral director. View our list of stockists here. |
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What are Outside The Box Caskets made from?
Our caskets are made in New Zealand using 100% biodegradable, recycled cardboard — with no plastic, metal, or MDF. Just clean, honest materials with a lighter impact on the planet. |
Can families personalise a cardboard casket?
Yes. Families can choose from our printed lid designs — or select a plain kraft casket to decorate themselves with paint, messages, or photos. Both options offer a meaningful way to create a personal tribute. View our range of caskets |
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Are your caskets approved for green burials?
Yes. Our caskets are suitable for both green and natural burials. The terms are often used interchangeably in New Zealand. They are fully biodegradable and accepted at certified natural burial grounds. View NZ natural burial locations here. |
Who created Outside The Box Caskets?
New Zealand designer Becs Bartells created Outside The Box to offer a more personal and sustainable alternative to traditional caskets. Read her story. |
