You may choose a cardboard casket as an eco-friendly option for burial. Since there are usually no metal components, these coffins make excellent selections. They return to the earth more quickly than hardwood or metal caskets. In addition, cardboard caskets are perfect cremation containers.
Cardboard Caskets
The varying reasons people purchase cardboard caskets means you’ll have an easy time finding one. Whether for green burial or an alternative cremation container, cardboard coffins are affordable. Additionally, you can personalize them with paint, quotations, and pictures for a meaningful celebration of your loved one.
What Is A Cardboard Casket?
First, the terms casket and coffin are used interchangeably even though they mean two different products. For more information, feel free to read my article explaining their differences.
Cardboard caskets are made from solid cardboard with a reinforced bottom to maintain stability. Depending on the style and manufacturer, these caskets may include handles and an interior liner.
Manufacturers use rope handles and starch-based, food-grade glues to keep these cardboard containers biodegradable. As a result, they are economical but still strong enough to do their job.
Titan – White Cardboard Coffin
Online casket retailer, Titan, sells their white cardboard coffin: The Titan Virtue, for $499. Titan’s cardboard caskets are made from recycled wood. Since there are no metal components, these caskets return to the earth more quickly. Additionally, they work well as cremation containers.
The casket is finished with starch-based glue and a non-bleach whitening process. Your family can leave the white surface as it is. Alternatively, feel free to decorate them with your loved one’s favorite colors and symbols. These blank-canvas caskets are easily personalized for a unique send-off.
Titan – Cardboard Coffin Box
In addition to a standard cardboard coffin box, Titan sells a cloth-covered cardboard casket. I like the Rounded-Top Cloth better than the Flat-Top Cloth. But that’s simply a personal preference.
Both feature a subtly-patterned blue/gray cloth finish over a corrugated cardboard shell. They also have stationary handles for easy transport. In addition, these cardboard coffins have a white crepe interior which is soft to the touch.
Whether you prefer the flat top or the rounded look, you can bury your loved one with a respectful elegance in either choice. Both are made to fit inside standard burial vaults. In addition, Titan’s free-shipping policy makes these cloth-covered cardboard caskets an affordable option.
Alibaba Juson Wood Co. – Cardboard Caskets For Cremation
This China-based retailer sells a high-quality cardboard cremation casket at a low price. This simple container meets the cremation needs for under $20 + shipping costs. In addition, it has a sturdy base for holding your loved one securely.
While you certainly have the right to purchase your cremation container, I don’t think you need the hassle. I had difficulty seeing how to buy the container while looking around on the website.
So instead, choose the alternative container your funeral home or crematory service offers. It will cost more than $20, but it will save you a considerable headache in trying to source this cardboard casket on your own.
The Cardboard Coffin Company – Recycled Cardboard Coffin
This UK-based cardboard coffin manufacturer sells its Manila Cardboard Coffin for 240 Pounds or approximately $263. Made from 70% recycled materials (paper and cardboard), it is entirely biodegradable. No metal or plastic components exist, so this is a perfect option for a natural burial.
In addition to the green product, the company plants three trees for every coffin sold. This cardboard container comes in a more-traditional coffin shape with a narrow head box. And finally, its rope handles and white interior make it a good choice for burial or cremation.
VetOne – Cardboard Dog Coffin
When your pet dies, you want to give them a dignified burial, even if it’s in your backyard. So call your vet to ask for a cardboard dog coffin. They will likely have one in stock from VetOne to sell or give you.
Another option is repurposing a regular cardboard box or even a shoebox for a small pet. Children enjoy decorating the boxes before burial. And it helps them understand death’s processes better. Finally, involving your family in your pet’s send-off is healing for everyone.
For backyard pet burial, read my article with some lovely ideas for a final send-off. Then, create a backyard memorial for your furry friend.
An alternative to a cardboard casket for dogs is the Sweet Goodbye Cocoon. Purchase it on Chewy.com for $159.99. This 100% cotton, handmade shroud keeps your beloved pet snug and secure for burial. In addition, the included garland, wooden carving, and ceremony guidebook to plan a perfect memorial for your dog or cat.
FAQs: Cardboard Caskets
Is It Legal To Bury Someone In A Cardboard Casket?
The Federal Trade Commission’s “Funeral Rule” gives consumers a lot of options when it comes to funerals. For example, you have the right to buy separate goods and services rather than a “package deal.”
You also have the right to purchase a casket or urn from wherever you choose. The crematory or funeral home cannot refuse to handle a casket or urn you buy online or locally. They also are not allowed to charge you a handling fee. Finally, the service provider cannot require your presence when the casket is delivered to them.
So you have a lot of rights surrounding how you bury or cremate your loved one. In addition to knowing your rights, you should learn the cemetery’s regulations. Because while it is legal to bury someone in a cardboard casket, that doesn’t mean a private cemetery allows it.
You may need to purchase a burial vault if the cemetery requires it. And then, some cemeteries will allow a cardboard coffin inside the vault. But, again, look to your funeral director or cemetery manager for specific guidance in your location.
What Does A Cardboard Casket Cost?
Most cremation services and funeral homes offer an “alternative container” for cremation and immediate burials. However, they usually cost around $100.
Additionally, you can choose a cloth-covered cardboard casket for $799 online. This coffin is suitable for burial but not cremation.
Who Are Cardboard Coffin Manufacturers?
Few US-based cardboard coffin manufacturers sell directly to the public. I had difficulty finding any online. China and the United Kingdom both sell products directly. But the shipping costs become prohibitive for making these an affordable alternative.
How Strong Are Cardboard Caskets?
Most cardboard caskets are strong enough to hold the weight of adults up to about 320 pounds. Your funeral director will order an oversized container for your loved one should the need arise. The containers have a high-density cardboard base, which is similar to MDF. So it is very sturdy.
What Are The Advantages Of Using A Cardboard Casket?
Cardboard caskets have several advantages over wooden or metal coffins. For example, they take fewer resources to make, so they have about 90% lower carbon emissions than standard caskets.
- Since they are biodegradable and green-burial friendly, cardboard caskets are welcome at natural cemeteries.
- The low cost makes them affordable for almost every budget.
- They make lightweight yet durable options for burial and cremation.
- Cardboard caskets are customizable with limitless personalization opportunities.
How Do You Personalize A Cardboard Casket?
Since cardboard caskets start with a white or brown slate, you can personalize them with paint and pictures. It’s like having a blank canvas, so create any design that fits your loved one’s personality.
Some families write poems or love letters directly onto the casket. And others paint flowers, fish, or birds on their containers. Additionally, a strategically-placed flower arrangement takes these containers to the next level.
Whether you paint an entire mural on a cardboard casket or only draw a few hearts, you still send a message of love. So let your imagination guide you in personalizing your loved one’s cardboard coffin.
How Much Do Cardboard Caskets Weigh?
Cardboard caskets weigh between 20 and 80 pounds, depending on the construction and model. While this may seem flimsy, they are specifically constructed for holding a person’s weight. So even though they don’t weigh much, cardboard caskets are sturdy.
Conclusion
Cardboard caskets are an excellent option for those with the earth’s sustainability in mind. Business Insider suggests that about 4,000,000 acres of forest are used to build caskets yearly. Add to that the amount of embalming fluid that seeps into the ground as bodies decay. And now you begin to see the appeal of green burials.
Using cardboard coffins has many advantages over traditional coffins. They are acceptable for natural burial as well as cremation. And because they are essentially blank slates, you can customize cardboard containers for a truly memorable experience.
Talk to your funeral director to purchase an alternative cremation container, a cardboard casket. They will have the best price point and easy accessibility in a short timeframe. Continue reading about burial options to select the best casket for your loved one.
Related:
- Dimensions of a Casket: Are All Caskets the Same Size?
- Pine Box Caskets 101: Costs, Customizations, Tips
