Baby boomers will not go quietly!

Australia is not as advanced as the UK, but is taking strides in that direction. Australia now has four sites, one each for New South Wales Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. The next natural burial site will open in South Australia this year. Byron Bay celebrant, Zenith Virago, from the Natural Death Centre, has been organising natural burials for people on their own land for 15 years.

Darryl Thomas, president of the Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association, stated that he expected more sites. "It's taken off overseas and it's gaining legs over here. It's a sign of the times as people become more concerned about the environment."

Like in the UK, when LifeArt launched an environmental coffin in 2004 many crematoriums and cemeteries were wary of the product, and now almost every cemetery and crematorium accepts the coffins.

Future and growth of environmental coffins

At present, world-wide research indicates that 89 per cent of coffins sold are made from Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF). So let’s compare the environmental facts of eco-coffins v MFD coffin. Independent cremation tests on the eco-coffin has concluded that a cardboard coffin produces up to 60 per cent less greenhouse emissions than regular coffins made from MDF or medium density fibreboard.

The tests also concluded that producing an MDF coffin releases the equivalent of about 33kg of CO2 into the atmosphere, compared to 13kg of CO2 to produce an eco-coffin.

In an industry that’s seen minimal changes over the years, cardboard coffins enable the funeral industry to dramatically reduce its impact on the environment With about 70 per cent of all funerals being cremations in our capital cities, it’s important that people have the option of reducing their own or their loved ones carbon emissions.

Like so many funeral directors and people involved in the death industry we all have stories that touched us because we were able to do something so very special, memorable and helpful for a family.

I believe the new trends for the industry can be summed up in this story.

Final lap of honour

When Irene and her husband Mark knew he would soon lose his battle with cancer she asked her friend to help her plan something very special for the farewell event.

Determined to help her dearest friend, Yoka searched the internet and found LifeArt coffins. She called LifeArt to see what was possible, explaining Mark was a mad keen Holden Racing Team fan his entire life. Yoka wondered if it was possible to create a coffin in the Holden team colours.

We contacted Holden Australia to request the use of their Holden Racing Team logo to create this special custom design. Holden Australia was very supportive by immediately giving us permission to use their logo for Mark’s customised design.

Thanks to family, friends and an inspiring funeral arranger, Maree, Mark’s funeral was held at Eastern Creek Raceway, and centre place was his custom designed Holden Racing Team Coffin.

Maree told us:

We held the service in the pit area, conducted by a minister associated with Holden racing team.

Even though the skies opened up on the day of the service, like true fans, 350 people stood in the rain and cheered their friend as his funeral car did final laps around the race track. The chequered flag waved by his son, giving him a respectful, loving and personal goodbye.