Return to Sender Artisan Eco-Casket
Death is a biological fact, yet many modern customs act in denial of death while degrading the environment. Coffins typically are expensive objects designed for permanence in the ground or made of composites and plastics that release toxins into the air during cremation.
Greg Holdsworth set out to create a simple, nontoxic, biodegradable casket. Metal and hardwood caskets consume precious resources, and others are made from wood composites covered with artificial wood grains or PVC. Many handles and decorative elements are made from metal-coated plastic, while linings are typically synthetic. Holdsworth chose instead to use plywood, a light material with an attractive grained surface. The low sides of the casket allow bodies to “lie in state” rather than requiring mourners to peer down into a deep box. Handles are integrated into the base of the coffin, and a wool fleece mattress provides a soft, natural cushion that harmonizes with the casket’s lightly oiled finish. Holdsworth describes the casket as “an elegant, eco-iconic form that honors the deceased and allows their final footprint to be a small one.”
Location: new zealand