When it comes to choosing a biodegradable coffin, willow makes a great choice. That being said, if you plan to be as kind to the planet as possible with your choice of coffin, there are other considerations apart from the main building material to keep in mind.
You have to think beyond the obvious. If you wish to have a biodegradable coffin then it’s relatively easy to remember to look at alternatives to brass coffin handles. However, it’s quite a different matter to consider how the coffin lid will close. Metal screws just aren’t going to decompose.
Then there is the coffin liner. Plastic is still a very common option, but there are some fantastic alternatives to choose from these days.
Bio willow coffin options
At Musgrove Willows, every coffin is made in our workshop with willow grown on our farm. So that’s a big environmental tick in the box. Coffin handles are available in a multitude of different willow colours and finishes or in rope. Both are biodegradable.
The waterproof liner fitted in each of our coffins is made from corn starch. All our coffins are 100% plastic free. They are currently hand lined with natural calico – an unbleached, plain woven textile. Different coloured liners are available. Only non-toxic dyes are used to hand-dye the coffin liners. With our eco credentials (Musgrove Willows is a carbon neutral company) other materials are always being considered. For example, fabric can now be made from bamboo. It’s finding the right product to meet our exacting standards.
Families may opt to have a pillow and/or mattress in the coffin. Ours are all handmade by our resident seamstresses using natural calico. Both the pillows and the mattresses are filled with hay which is grown in some of our fields. It is also becoming more common for a family to request a specific colour for a pillow and/or mattress. The interior can become an integral part of the coffin design.
Over the past few years, it has been noticeable how many more families are choosing wooden toggle closures for the coffin lid rather than screws. It is relatively easy for us to use non-toxic dyes to colour the toggles, so these can also end up becoming an eye-catching feature.
For a fully biodegradable coffin, you need to look beyond a traditional brass name plate. Sustainable oak or beech is our preferred option. Plaques are engraved with a state-of-the-art laser and then tied to the coffin lid. Simple images can also be incorporated.
Bio willow coffins – a final word
Willow not only makes a fantastic (and beautiful) biodegradable coffin choice, it is also a sustainable one. Willow is a fast growing crop. It takes around 3 years to become established and can then be harvested every year for decades.
If you are keen to make an environmentally friendly coffin choice, do be wary of the provenance of the coffin. The willow coffin market is awash with imports from Eastern Europe and Asia. The air miles (and workmanship) are in a very different league to ours.
So, there it is. Willow makes a great choice for a biodegradable coffin. Ours have been tested and approved by the Funeral Furnishing Manufacturers’ Association and are suitable for burial, cremation and woodland sites.
