You can take comfort knowing our willow coffins are the mindful choice for the environmentally conscious. Willow has long been known for its positive environmental benefits, particularly it’s renewable and ecological properties. Willow is a sound alternative to conventional materials such as particleboard, plastic and metal.
Did you know, the manufacturing process for one of our willow coffins releases 60% less CO₂ than a conventional particleboard coffin. Willow is carbon negative and during the growth of the willow crop, CO₂ becomes trapped under the soil reducing the amount of CO₂ released into the atmosphere. When this is taken into account, our coffins’ net CO₂ emissions as a result of production, are as little as one-third of that of a particleboard coffin. [1]
Willow is grown in rows of bushes on the Somerset levels. We begin harvesting our willow in late autumn. Once cut our willow will regenerate back to the same height within a single year. Willow enjoys rapid growth, is highly renewable, and the number one reason it’s used as a crop for biomass energy. Once planted, a willow crown will last up to 60 years before needing to be renewed, in that time only the most basic of maintenance is required.
Our willow coffins are completely bio-degradable, the coffin structure, the handles and the lid, including all the linings are totally natural. We’re committed to not using glues, resins or metal in the manufacture of our willow coffins. This helps to contribute towards the coffin being able to decompose much more quickly than conventional options such as MDF and chipboard.
The willow we grow integrates with its surrounding land exceptionally well, providing a natural habitat for many species of wetland birds and animals. When grown as a short-rotation coppice, willow retains a higher water consumption than other agricultural crops. In flood-affected areas, this helps to take pressure off the natural landscape. In addition, willow is used as a natural engineering solution to tackle a range of conditions like; biofiltration, constructed wetlands, ecological wastewater treatment, hedges, land reclamation, bioengineering, slope stabilisation and soil erosion control. Willow can be the perfect solution to many challenges facing the natural environment.
[1] Based on information from Whittaker, C. (2020) Life cycle assessment of a woven willow coffin