Materials & supply chain
Our willow coffins are made using seven materials — willow, hemp rope, bamboo, untreated softwood, OSB board, organic cotton and a cornstarch liner. Here are the details of our current suppliers and links to more information about the materials we use, starting with our willow.
Willow
Buff Somerset willow, woven by hand
Hemp rope
Integral rope handles
Bamboo
Structural bracing
Untreated softwood
Base and frame
OSB board
Coffin base
Organic cotton
Liner and lining
Cornstarch liner
Biodegradable inner liner
Material 01 — Willow
There are three main willow-producing farms in the UK — Coates, Musgroves and Somerset. The 1,000+ rods of Buff Willow used to weave our coffins come from Coates English Willow Farm in the Somerset Levels in England.
The most important wetland area in the UK. This unique landscape provides the perfect conditions for willow growing. Basket-making willow, known as "withies", has been grown here for two centuries, and it is now the only area left where it is still cultivated for the production of baskets, furniture, garden items and high-quality artists' charcoal — a craft that in many ways has not changed for centuries.
Willow grows extremely quickly. In one growing season — from late May to early October — a single rod can reach up to 8ft long. New willow beds are planted in the spring using pieces of willow from the crop harvested during the preceding winter. The new willow bed will not be fully productive in the first three years, but once well established, with careful management the plants can last up to 30 years. Willow is grown sustainably: very easy to harvest and requiring no fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides.
At a glance
Material 02
Three strand natural hemp rope is used to create the six carrying handles. Sourced from Rope Services UK the rope is made from sustainable hemp fibres and is fully biodegradable. Hemp is grown in cooler regions of Europe, mainly France, with China and North America. It is an annual crop harvested for the long fibres in their stems. Hemp grows fast, needs relatively little water compared with cotton, improves soil, and sequesters carbon.
ropeservicesuk.comMaterial 03
Bamboo is used for structural bracing within the coffin. It is a fast-growing natural material, chosen for its strength.
Material 04
Creates the frame around which the lid is woven. The untreated softwood is sourced as an off-cut from DEFA Sawmill, St John’s Isle of Man.
Material 05
To meet industry standards the base of the coffin has to be flat and smooth. Oriented Strand Board (OSB3) is used. It is made by compressing layers of large wood shreds sourced from trees grown in sustainably managed forests, and contains 5% wax and synthetic resin coating. OSB manufacture uses less energy and resin than MDF. Unlike natural wood that can bend, warp or split, OSB guarantees a uniform strength and stability. Sourced locally, the OSB used is manufactured in Luxembourg.
Material 06
The finishing liner is calico cotton, sourced from Whaleys Fabrics, UK. We currently have two types we can use. The first is an organic cotton/recycled cotton mix, containing 25% recycled cotton fibres. The second is a 100% organic cotton.
whaleys-bradford.ltd.uk/about-whaleysMaterial 07
An integral part of the coffin lining, this waterproof film is made from cornstarch. Developed as a natural replacement for black plastic, which breaks down leaving microplastics in the soil, cornstarch material biodegrades over 4 – 8+ months depending on temperature, rainfall etc. It is compliant with EN13432 European biodegradable and compostable standards and is sourced from Mulch Organics.
mulchorganic.co.ukAlso available
An option for the lid lining we also have two beautiful Manx print fabrics sourced from Bon Fabric in Douglas, and made in the UK. The Manx Tartan is 100% cotton. The Triskelion material is a 85% cotton/15% recycled polyester mix.
bonfabrics.im