THE ECOPOD RECYCLED PAPER COFFIN'S REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN
...changed the way coffins are viewed in England, the birthplace of the natural burial movement.
HANDMADE PAPER SCULPTURE - 100% RECYCLED PAPER COFFIN
A virtual sculpture that brings together artisan skills with style,
elegance and a respect for the environment, the Ecopod is painstakingly
handmade from naturally hardened, 100% recycled paper - mainly newsprint
and office paper - and carefully formed into its Egyptian-inspired
design It's covered in a handmade paper constructed of 100% naturally
dyed mulberry bark paper. Ecopods are made by hand at the ARKA workshop in Brighton by father and son
team - Peter and Gar Rock. Peter is also a co-owner of ARKA Ecopod Ltd
with designer Hazel Selene.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
THE ECOPOD IS NOW AVAILABLE SPECIAL-ORDER ONLY AND REQUIRES AT LEAST 4-6 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY
SIZES:
- Size 1 - height up to 5′3″; carrying a weight of up to 15 stone (210 lb or 95.25 kg)
- Size 2 - height up to 6′0″; carrying a weight up to 18 stone (252 lb or 114.30 kg)
Available in the following coloured and gold finishes:
Indigo Blue - plain
- Indigo Blue with white screen printed doves
- Indian Red - plain
- Indian Red - screen printed with an Aztec Sun
- Forest Green - plain
- Forest Green - with screen printed Celtic Cross
- White - plain
- Gold - plain
PRODUCT WEIGHT = 44#
USING THE ECOPOD
Hundreds of Ecopods have been used in UK burials and cremations over the past decade. Just like any coffin, when handled properly it is a secure, beautiful and dignified means of transport to the final place of rest.
ECOPOD STRAP INSTRUCTIONS
To View or Print Out:
Ecopod Handle Instructions Page - Front
Ecopod Handle Instructions Page - Back
The Ecopod arrives strapped together. We recommend leaving the coffin strapped until ready to use. There is a simple quilted cotton mattress inside. Additional natural fiber blankets or quilts can be added, as can flowers, dried herbs and sweet-smelling branches.
CARRYING THE ECOPOD
The Ecopods are carried with 6 metal and bamboo handles inserted through the loop ends of the straps. The metal handles can be easily removed prior to burial. The Ecopod can be traditionally shouldered by six-pallbearers.
LOWERING THE ECOPOD BY HAND OR MACHINE
The Ecopod can be easily lowered by hand using either straps or ropes in the traditional manner. Placement of two 4x4 boards crosswise on the bottom for the pod to rest on will allow the straps to be removed easily.
Remember, a shallow grave (less than 36" - 18-20" of soil maximum on top, not including the mounded earth) is preferred in a natural burial. The burial shown here is done without an outer burial vault or grave liner.
The Ecopod is durable and will not melt in the rain. If it does get
wet, simply allow it to dry and it will re-harden to its original
strength. If the paper gets damp, unless it is rubbed raw, it too
should dry back to the near-original condition. There is a small amount
of metal in the Ecopod - a couple of bolts hold the straps in place and
there are metal and bamboo handles. If there's concern about the metal
the handles and buckles can be easily removed before lowering the
Ecopod into the grave.
CONVENTIONAL LOWERING IN A TRADITIONAL CEMETERY
Due to their extremely light weight, natural coffins can be lowered easily by hand. They also work just fine with traditional lowering equipment.
MOISTURE PROTECTION
Most bodies have been adequately cared for before burial and, if managed properly, leakage from an unembalmed body generally does not occur. If additional protection is required, a wool pad, quilt, or thick cardboard on the bottom of the coffin, placed under the liner, should be adequate. Plastic liners are not necessary! As always,we suggest no synthetic clothes on the deceased, nor non-degradable materials in the coffin.
ECOPOD MATERIALS
The supply of post consumer newspapers comes from Magpie
- Brighton’s original curbside collection and recycling co-operative.
The newspapers are converted into paper clay with the help of a pre-war
dough
machine.
The form-fitting Ecopod tends to be narrow in the hips, following the contours of the human body. Each coffin includes a lightly quilted unbleached cotton mattress pad.
The unique strap and handle system make it
easy for families to carry the Ecopod at a funeral, and
participate more fully in the ceremony. The fitted lid is separate, and secured
with cotton straps. The metal carrying grips can be easily removed prior to final disposition.
ECOPOD IS A CREMATION OR NATURAL BURIAL COFFIN
The Ecopod is suitable for cremation, or burial in woodland sites or traditional cemeteries, and biodegrades naturally over time when placed in the ground.Each Ecopod is finished to order and, while some stock is carried in the US, many are pre-ordered and shipped with the Natural Burial Company's container shipments. Some are even flown in special-order - that has less of a carbon footprint than someone flying in for the funeral, and planting a tree offsets the energy use; better, yet, if the tree goes with the grave! (see Be A Tree)
PRESS AND NEWS
Check out Ecopod in the National Geographic
MORE PRESS:
OBIT Magazine - "Going to Ground"
Treehugger noticed it a long time ago, back in 2005 - great eyes, Treehugger!
Huffington Post and the Associated Press
To learn even more about the history of the Ecopod and the inspiration behind Hazel Selina's original design - a cross between a seedpod and an Egyptian sarcophagus - you can visit their website: http://www.ecopod.co.uk.
There are some wonderful stories on their press pages and they've got a small workshop in Brighton, UK, where each one is molded carefully by hand.
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