​What Families Want to Know About Cardboard Caskets (and Why They’re Choosing Them)

What Families Want to Know About Cardboard Caskets (and Why They’re Choosing Them)

Funerals are changing. Families are starting to move away from the polished wood veneers and shiny fittings and choosing something simpler, more personal, and better for the planet. Not because they don’t care, but because they do.

​Cardboard caskets offer a real, down-to-earth way to say goodbye.
​These are some of the questions we often hear when it comes to our cardboard caskets.

Strength. Are they strong enough?
Yes. Each Outside The Box Cardboard Casket is made from a specially developed New Zealand-made board that has been tested, refined, and proven over years. They meet all the requirements for cremation and burial and for green/natural burial too. We were even the first cardboard casket in the country to meet the strict requirements for natural burial certification.
So yes, they are cardboard, but not just any cardboard.

​Simplicity. Is it just a cardboard box?
No, and very far from it. Our cardboard caskets are very well made and cleverly engineered, some would say overly engineered caskets that just happen to be made of cardboard. You can keep it simple, go for the plain kraft DIY, decorate it, or personalise it with artwork or flowers. Some families write messages, others choose a printed lid design. There are so many options. 
​You can view our casket range here.

It’s a quiet kind of statement: no shiny wood or blingy hardware, something softer, more natural, and down to earth (literally). People often think “cardboard” means no fuss, but it still is a bit of a fuss, in the best way.

It ticks all the boxes: something a bit different, something that feels right, and something that still looks beautiful. Go for the simple plain kraft or the bright printed lid. It is not just the eco side of things or being “cardboard” where people say “put me in a cardboard box” (which we all know is not that straightforward). Maybe put me in an Outside The Box, but anything else, maybe not.

Sustainability. Is it better for the environment?
Yes. Recycled cardboard with FSC-certified kraft fibres, all fully biodegradable. No metal, no plastic, nothing that does not need to be there, and nothing that cannot be put back into the earth and returned to nature.

Outside The Box Caskets are certified for natural burial, and they break down gently over time. Even if being eco-friendly was not the main reason you chose it, it still feels good knowing you have done something kind for the planet. A win-win, really.

Story. What does it say about the person?
It says they cared. That they wanted something real, something that felt like them. It’s for people who don’t want the polished look of a traditional coffin but still want something meaningful and personal.

It is a small departure from the ordinary, a casket that is personal, natural, and (let’s be honest) a bit different. You could say it’s a little outside the box.

Funeral director Benjamin James (@benjaminjamesendoflife), using one of our Outside The Box Caskets.

​Made for New Zealand Families
​You don’t need to see us in a catalogue or brochure to ask for one. Just tell your funeral director you’d like an Outside The Box cardboard casket and they’ll know what to do. Even if we’re not shown on a printed list or website, our caskets are available and easy for them to order in.
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We’ve worked with funeral homes across New Zealand for more than five years, offering both plain kraft and printed cardboard caskets. Whether you’re after something simple or more personal, it’s available to you, just ask.

We also have a map of stockists below, but not every funeral director we work with is listed. If you don’t see yours there, just ask, most can easily arrange one for you.
View Outside The Box Caskets Stockists

Our caskets are made here in New Zealand from our own specially developed cardboard. They’re strong, personal, biodegradable, and made to help families say goodbye in a way that feels genuine.

Because when you think of a cardboard casket, it shouldn’t be just any box.
It should be an Outside The Box Casket, one that truly ticks all the boxes, even while it’s outside them.