Colorado-based Ecoffins USA introduces banana coffins
By Laurie Posted on July 5th, 2009 in Latest News, Living GreenWe’ve previously talked about eco-options for funeral planning in our article Planet-friendly post-mortality planning, introducing a pile of UK-based companies coming up with eco-friendly ideas for caskets.
A new Montrose-based company, Ecoffins USA is now catering towards natural burials with their biodegradable coffins made from banana sheaves and bamboo.
Taking as little as six months to biodegrade, they’ve already sold $40,000 worth of these to funeral homes in the last year. The bodies they house eventually decompose into the earth. They also offer urns.
Ecoffins USA is sister company of The SAWD Partnership, a manufacturer of eco-friendly coffins, caskets and urns in the UK, as well as one of the founders of these items.
The all-natural, organic materials used to make them are fully biodegradable, with sustainably harvested bamboo and banana sheaves. Each hand-crafted, they are also Fair Trade Certified, and free from chemicals and preservatives.
Visit their website at ecoffinsusa.com for more information on staying green for all eternity.
Image courtesy of ecoffinsusa.com
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Discussion Take a look at what is being said about this article.
Jonathan, on July 5th, 2009 says:
Interesting, but if they biodegrade before the body decomposes, what does that mean?
Joanna Passarelli, on July 5th, 2009 says:
Hi Jonathan,
Curious about your comment. Do you mean after burial?
The purpose of a casket/coffin is for the funeral ceremony only; the body need not be contained in anything once it’s in the ground. In fact, unless you are having the funeral ceremony at the funeral home, and are being buried in a cemetery, you may not need a casket at all!
(Please check your state & local regulations if you’re really curious, or get in touch with the Funeral Consumer Alliance for more details.)
The death care industry is seeing a resurgence of the “home funeral,” where Mom is laid out at home, on the sofa or in the bedroom, the family comes to visit, then wrapped in a burial shroud or family quilts, the body is carried by relatives to its final resting place (typically a natural burial ground or private land).
I urge everyone to research & plan your own funeral. It won’t kill you.
Laurie, on July 5th, 2009 says:
Thanks Joanna for your insightful reply! I am sure this will help many of our readers.
Linda Pearson, on July 8th, 2009 says:
Joanna – this is really interesting and thanks for the follow up. I’m laughing at your pun, too!