​Printed Lids and Doing Death a Bit Differently

​Printed Lids and Doing Death a Bit Differently
We’ve been making cardboard caskets for five years now. Quietly, steadily. No huge fanfare just doing the work and offering something a bit different in an industry that doesn’t always change quickly.

When we started Outside The Box Caskets, it came from a pretty simple place: we saw a gap. There weren’t many (or really any) options for people who wanted a more sustainable, down-to-earth kind of casket, something that felt less traditional, less heavy in every sense of the word. So we made one. A cardboard casket that’s strong, clean, and genuinely kind to the planet. And honestly? We think it looks pretty good too. Well, we think so, and so we’ve been told.

But it’s not just about looks. There were a couple of years of prototyping, development, and testing before we landed on the final design. We tried things, scrapped them, tried again - until we had something we felt proud to put our name on.
Our caskets are built to hold up, and weight tested to 320kg.
Do you know any other cardboard coffin that can do that? Neither do we.

And to be clear, it’s not just a box. That’s where the name comes from. Our caskets are different. Not showroom-perfect. Just something real, something people can connect with - especially when the usual options don’t feel quite right.

​About the Lids
Now let’s talk lids, because that’s where people often really start to connect with what we do.

We’ve got eight lid designs in our current range - prints that bring colour, softness, or even a bit of boldness to the casket. They’re printed right here in NZ too. If you’d like to see what’s available, you can view our personalised caskets here​.
It’s not about making a big statement - but you can if you want to.

What matters is that people finally have a choice. For a long time, they didn’t. If a printed lid speaks to someone, great. And if none of them do, that’s totally fine too.
We also offer a plain kraft cardboard casket, and that option can be deeply personal. Some families choose to decorate it themselves - paint it, write messages, cover it in flowers or artwork. It can become a really meaningful part of the farewell.
We’ve seen that blank surface turn into a tribute full of love, laughter, and memory. Sometimes messy, sometimes beautiful. Often both.

It can be a shared moment. A creative goodbye. There’s no right or wrong way to do it, just whatever feels right for the people involved
 
It’s Not for Everyone - and That’s Fine
We know our cardboard caskets won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Some funeral directors love them, some don’t and that’s completely fine. We’re not here to convince anyone. We’re here for the people who look at what’s usually on offer and think, nah, that’s not quite us.

The whole point of Outside The Box Caskets is choice. We’re not trying to push anything on anyone. We’re here for the people who want something a bit different - something gentler, lighter, or more personal.

And lately, we’ve seen a shift. More funeral homes are starting to offer our caskets, and we’re now available in Australia too, which is exciting. Word’s slowly getting out, and it’s clear that people have been looking for this kind of option - they just didn’t always know it was possible.

At the end of the day, we’re just trying to make it a bit easier for people to say goodbye in a way that actually fits. Whether that’s with a printed lid, a plain one, or something totally DIY.
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Because it might not be your thing, but it might be someone else’s. And that’s why we do this.

We’re not trying to reinvent everything. We just want to offer a good, solid alternative that feels more in line with the kind of send-off people actually want. Something that reflects the person - not just the process.
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If you’re after something a bit different - something lighter, more personal, or that just feels more like you (or the person you’re saying goodbye to) it’s worth asking your funeral director about Outside The Box Caskets.  We were the first cardboard casket in New Zealand to be certified for natural burial​, and we meet the standards for green burial here in NZ. We’re easy to find, both locally and now across the ditch too - in Sydney and Melbourne, where our cardboard  caskets are also made.