How to Choose a Coffin

Coffin or casket? Polished timber or pressboard? Cardboard or Costco? So many options..!

While shrouds or a pod grown from mushrooms are all choices available to us now, the vast majority of us are still placed in a coffin after our death. With online shopping and Costco available for coffin purchases, the range has greatly increased beyond the showroom of a traditional funeral home. This smorgasbord of choice can provide very creative options, or it can feel like more pressure to not make the ‘wrong’ choice for your person who has died (or yourself!).

So how do you make a decision that is authentic to your values, your personal style and your wallet? 

Personal Style

Does everyone have a relative who says ‘Just stick me in a cardboard box. I won’t care – I’ll be dead!’? A cardboard coffin is a great choice for more than just the low cost; because it can be decorated, you and your family can really make it personal. Some people like to decorate their own, ready to go, or can order their coffin with a printed wrap. For others, decorating the coffin together after a person has died is a wonderful way to share stories and let their feelings be in the moment. Woven coffins can have flowers, ribbons, fabric or other special items inserted into the weave by friends and family. Of course, for many people the meaningful choice is a traditional coffin with a lacquered timber finish.

Disposal method

If you want a natural burial, you must choose a coffin (or shroud) which will biodegrade quickly with minimal chemicals included as part of the construction process. This will mean cardboard, wicker or untreated timber. You can also choose to be buried or cremated in a shroud, although your body will need to be placed on a tray.

 

Environmental Impact

It’s pretty simple; the less processed your coffin, the less impact it will have when it is buried or incinerated. Here are some considerations.

Is it coated or sealed?
Timber, compressed wood and some cardboard coffins have laminated coatings or use resin in their construction. These delay biodegrading and release chemicals into the ground (if you choose burial) or into the air (if you choose cremation)

How is it harvested?
Are the materials sustainably sourced? Quick-grow materials like wicker, seagrass and sustainably harvested plantation timber will have a lower impact than old-growth timber.

How far has it travelled?
If the materials used to make the coffin, or the coffin itself, has to be transported for significant distances, this also contributes to the carbon footprint. 

Price

Usually, the first thing people mention to us about coffins is how expensive they are! This is especially true for something you literally dispose of almost immediately. Rest assured, though, there is no need to spend a fortune, or even anything, on a coffin or similar. 

If you make your own casket, the price can start at zero dollars. Tender offers a range of coffins that we keep in stock, including cardboard, wicker and traditional styles. These 

If you are using a traditional funeral home, ask to see options from a catalogue, not just their showroom. You can also ask about cheaper options for handle fittings and linings. You are able to provide your own coffin with any funeral provider, but some may charge a fee for you to do that. It’s also worth checking if the price provided includes things like the handles and linings that you’re expecting.

The key takeaways are:

• Choose a coffin that matches your values, budget and personal style
• Consider if coffin decorating may be a healing and celebratory opportunity for friends and family.
• Ask for other options or provide your own if you don’t like what you’re being offered

 

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