Maybe you are contemplating a green burial and are considering a cardboard casket as part of your funeral arrangement? Though, are you equipped with the right information around why these types of eco coffins are a better choice?

Eco caskets or cardboard coffins are still seen as quite unconventional, but more recently people have been making more eco conscious decisions and wanting a greener alternative to the more traditional type of funeral arrangements.

Read on to find out more about cardboard caskets and why they should be regarded as a greener choice.

What is a Cardboard Eco Casket?

​A cardboard casket or coffin is a container in which the body of a deceased loved one is buried or cremated. Unlike a traditional casket, a cardboard coffin is made from corrugated cardboard or sometimes a type of honeycomb.  Corrugated cardboard has been around since the 1800’s and today it is one of the world’s most widely used and available materials. With constant advancements in its performance qualities, cardboard is the ideal material to manufacture an eco coffin or casket.
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 1.     Cardboard Caskets Are Environment Friendly
 A cardboard casket can definitely be seen as more environmentally friendly compared to wood or metal caskets. Made from recycled and biodegradable materials, it is the ideal choice for a green burial or an eco-friendly funeral. A cardboard casket contributes to saving the environment by producing less carbon emissions and contributes to less deforestation. It quickly decomposes into the soil and is also 100% biodegradable. Better Meets Reality indicated that cardboard generally breaks down within 2 months in comparison to wooden caskets that can take up to 10-15 years. This timeframe is obviously dependent on different factors that might influence how quickly materials break down in varying conditions.
 
2.     Cardboard Caskets Are Strong And Durable
You might think that cardboard is an unreliable or weaker choice of material especially for a casket. You will be surprised to know that cardboard caskets are strong, with different load bearing capabilities, which range from 100 – 240kg, and an Outside The Box Cardboard Casket​ has been tested to an impressive 320kg! A cardboard casket is also easy to lift and can be shipped off flat pack which makes it more economical anywhere you may require it to go. Not to mention, a cardboard coffin is lightweight, making it easy to handle.

3.     Cardboard Caskets Are Suitable For Funerals
A cardboard casket is a suitable option for both burials and cremations. It is widely accepted with most funeral directors, burial sites and crematoriums.
During a cremation, a cardboard casket contains fewer toxic substances that are released within this process. Compared to other caskets, a cardboard coffin cremates faster, requiring less fuel use and is therefore responsible for fewer carbon emissions.
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Are You in Search of a Cardboard Casket?

Are you planning a green burial or eco-friendly funeral for a loved one and would like to select an option that doesn't impact negatively on the environment?
At Outside the Box Caskets, we only deal in eco-friendly cardboard caskets for burial and cremation ceremonies. Our eco caskets are designed with the environment in mind and are made from all natural, sustainable and recyclable materials. To enquire about our cardboard caskets for whatever service you are planning for, you can reach out to us through our website at www.outsidetheboxcaskets.nz.

Are you a nature lover and consciously think of ways to minimise your personal impact on the environment? Do you feel that it’s essential to give back to the world, especially after you have gained so many benefits from it? 

With more and more people trying to live eco-friendly, green and sustainable lifestyles, many of us are also considering the impact we can have on the environment when we die. 

You may not have really thought too much about it till now, but trees take 28-30 years to grow and are the main material used to make timber caskets which are then only buried or cremated. Seems like such a waste of natural resources and cost. 

The good news is that there are now alternative options such as cardboard caskets and coffins that you can choose from rather than a traditional casket made from timber or MDF. 

A green study from Southern Cross University found that making greener choices led to deeper levels of life satisfaction and positive outlook on life compared to those that didn’t. So, just like recycling, reducing single-use plastics or reusing reusable bags for shopping, nominating something eco friendly in your final wishes seems like a natural fit. 72% of those in the study also hoped to leave a better planet for their children which make all of these choices even more motivating when it comes to protecting our environment. 

Any funeral arrangement, whether it be a burial or cremation will carry some environmental impact or footprint but it’s important to understand how you can make alternative choices to minimise that impact when it comes to your final send off. 

What are Green Burials? 
Also known as eco burial or natural burial, green burials are environmentally friendly and focus on more simple, eco-friendly funerals for the dead. 
We know people are becoming increasingly concerned about the environment, which has also contributed to a return to more eco-friendly green burials methods. Did you know that according to the Natural Funeral Directors Association​, they have seen a resurgence in green burials globally in recent years, with many indicating they would consider having one instead of a more traditional funeral arrangement.
 
What makes Green Burials the best choice? 
The phrase “Leave it better than you found it,” isn’t always easy to follow when it comes to burials. As our society works to establish sustainable lifestyles, more and more people are turning toward green burials. Green burials have little to no environmental impact and can actually restore natural resources and habitats. 

Their sustainability comes from the use of nontoxic and biodegradable materials such as eco caskets that are often made from cardboard. Caring for the dead in an environmentally friendly way is both natural and rewarding. Some of the benefits of green burials include; 

1. Lower costs 
When people opt for green burials, they don’t have to worry about having an extravagant, lavish burial. Green burials are simple and do not involve embalming, cremation, and fancy caskets. Instead, they include an eco casket, often a cardboard casket which is 100% biodegradable and leaves no trace. 

2. Helps protect natural resources 
If you have a love for nature in your heart and want to rest peacefully in a green place full of flowers and shrubs, then you should consider a green burial. Green burials are a wonderful way through which you can limit the use of natural resources and preserve natural landscapes. 

3. Helps eliminate the use of chemicals 
As the embalming process is quite popular in traditional burials, green burials help avoid this. This is a good step for the environment as the embalming process includes the use of many chemicals which might be harmful. Many workers also get exposed to this chemical which can also be dangerous for their health. 

How to make your funeral greener? 
To make your funeral greener, you can simply opt for an eco coffin as part of your service. These types of eco-friendly caskets have minimal impact on the environment compared to traditional timber coffins or MDF caskets. This means they are made from natural and sustainable materials that are ethically sourced and avoid use of chemicals in their production, meaning they biodegrade naturally into the earth.

Outside The Box cardboard caskets NZ are made from 100% natural, sustainable and recyclable materials, so they’re great options for those wanting a certified, greener choice when compared to traditional caskets or coffins. For something a bit more special, these caskets can even be personalised to truly honour your loved one.

If your final wish is to go green, the first step is to make sure you have these instructions noted in your living will in relation to your funeral arrangement preferences. Here you can note your wishes if you want an eco casket, green burial or any other personal desires that you want your family to carry out for you. Additionally, to noting this in your will, it is always important to let your family know of these wishes.

If you’re looking for a New Zealand Funeral Director to buy a locally made eco casket or cardboard coffin, then you should visit www.outsidetheboxcaskets.nz for more information.

​Contact us directly if you have any queries about our casket products or to find a stockist near you.