Coffins, But Not as You Know Them: Personalised and Eco-Friendly Choices

A woman in Australia recently made headlines after becoming the first person in the country to be laid to rest in a coffin made from mushrooms.

It may sound extraordinary, but it illustrates just how much coffin design has evolved. Today, families can choose from traditional wooden coffins, colourful personalised designs and natural, biodegradable materials that reflect a person’s character, interests and values.

When most people picture a coffin, a familiar image probably comes to mind: polished wood, traditional handles and something suitably understated. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Traditional oak veneer coffins remain a popular choice and, for many families, they feel exactly right.

However, they are far from the only option.

Creating a funeral that feels like the person

I was reminded of this recently while meeting with a family. One lady spoke very openly about what she would want for her own funeral: absolutely no black under any circumstances, plenty of personality and a genuine celebration of her life. What she did not want was anything bland or unnecessarily sombre.

She told me she had researched local funeral directors and felt that Tom Owen and Son fitted what she had in mind. I loved hearing that because it sums up how we approach funerals: we do not believe every funeral needs to look or feel the same and neither do the coffins.

A coffin can be simple and traditional, but it can also include colour, photographs, flowers, hobbies, symbols or other details that tell part of someone’s story. Our role is not to persuade families to choose something unusual. It is to ensure they know what is possible and help them make a choice that feels right.

You can explore some of the options on our coffins page.

Colourful and printed cardboard coffins

Cardboard coffins are often very different from what people initially imagine.

One range I particularly like comes from Parley Green, a UK manufacturer specialising in sustainable cardboard coffins. Through its collaboration with British design studio Peagreen, the range includes bold florals, contemporary patterns and designs inspired by hobbies and interests including a golf fairway. Bespoke designs can also be created, allowing photographs, colours, landscapes or meaningful imagery to cover the coffin.

For those who prefer simplicity, a plain manila cardboard coffin is another option. Its natural finish can feel understated, uncomplicated and contemporary. Some families choose to decorate the coffin themselves by:

• Painting pictures or patterns;
• Writing messages;
• Adding stickers or photographs;
• Inviting relatives and friends to contribute; or
• Asking children or grandchildren to create drawings.

Decorating a coffin together can become a meaningful part of saying goodbye, particularly for a family who wants to be more involved in the funeral arrangements.

Personalised wooden coffins

Wooden coffins can also be highly personal. The Artiste range from Steve Soult can incorporate colour and engraving. Names, flowers, images, wording or symbols connected to someone’s life can become part of the coffin itself. This might include a favourite flower, a musical symbol, a military emblem, a butterfly or something connected to a much-loved hobby.

J. C. Walwyn & Sons also offers coloured coffins and memorial graphics. We have recently arranged funerals with both white and pink coffins, each chosen because it felt right for the person and family involved. Personalisation does not always need to be elaborate. Sometimes a favourite colour or a small engraved detail is enough to make a traditional coffin feel much more individual.

Natural and eco-friendly coffin choices

For families looking for a softer, more natural appearance, willow and wicker coffins are increasingly popular. These coffins can be made from materials such as willow, bamboo, banana leaf or pandanus. Flowers, foliage or ribbons can be woven through the coffin, creating something especially fitting for a person who loved gardening, nature or spending time outdoors.

Wool coffins offer a completely different appearance. Their gently wrapped shape creates a soft and comforting feel that some families find less formal than a traditional wooden coffin.

Cardboard, wicker and other natural materials can also be appropriate for woodland and natural burial grounds, although the requirements of the individual cemetery or burial ground should always be checked before making a final decision.

Sustainability is an important consideration for us, and you can read more about our environmental commitments.

What is a mushroom coffin?

Then there is the option that usually receives the biggest reaction: the mushroom coffin. The Loop Living Cocoon is grown using mycelium, the underground root-like network of fungi, combined with upcycled hemp fibres. It is designed to return naturally to the earth after burial. The coffin is grown in the Netherlands in approximately seven days and, under suitable conditions, its materials can become part of the soil in around 45 days. The Australian burial attracted attention because it was the first use of the coffin in that country. The Guardian reported that the family chose it to reflect the woman’s connection to nature and her wish to give something back.

The Loop Living Cocoon is available as part of the coffin range offered by Tom Owen and Son. It may appeal to somebody whose environmental values were particularly important to them.

Can a personalised coffin be used for burial or cremation?

Many personalised and alternative coffins are suitable for both burial and cremation within North Wales, but this can depend on the coffin, its fittings and the rules of the chosen crematorium or burial ground.

We check the suitability of each option as part of arranging the funeral, so families do not need to navigate those details alone.

If you have seen a particular coffin or have an idea that is not included in our usual range, please ask us. We can often source specific designs or explore whether a bespoke option can be created.

A coffin does not have to be unusual to be personal

The point is not that everybody should choose an unconventional coffin. A traditional oak coffin can be every bit as personal and appropriate, what matters is knowing that there is a choice. We personalise funeral music, flowers, photographs, clothing, service booklets and even the route the funeral takes so why should the coffin automatically be the one element expected to conform?

Sometimes the right choice will be oak. Sometimes it will be willow, wool, wildflowers, engraving or a bold printed design. Sometimes, apparently, it might even be mushrooms. A funeral should feel right for the person at the centre of it, and the coffin can be part of that story too.

Talk to us about personalised coffin choices

Tom Owen and Son is an independent, family-run funeral director supporting families throughout Llandudno, Conwy, Colwyn Bay and the surrounding areas.

We can show you a range of traditional, personalised and eco-friendly coffins and help you choose an option that suits the person, the type of funeral and your budget.