Funeral director Paul Farrell

This article was published in our Eco 2025 green edition

FUNERAL directors have begun using “Cocoon” eco-coffins so people do not have to harm the planet in their final farewell.

Paul Farrell, who runs LDC Funeral Services in Tufnell Park, said the coffins would be offered free of charge for cremations during 2025.

He said that wooden frames are reused at the end of each service, with an internal second coffin used for the cremation.

This is made from sustainable card­board. Mr Farrell said: “The Cocoon is not our concept. We picked it up while we were working with Green Endings Funerals [previously based at the same address] and it was always a very popular choice for families who were working on a very low budget.

“I think that now, given the economic recession we are facing, it would be a good idea to offer the Cocoon Coffin free of charge in 2025 and see how this idea is received.”

The ‘cocoon’ has a reusable wooden frame, and the inside is made of recycled card

LDC was set up after the pioneering funeral service Green Endings in Fortess Road closed, with the idea of carrying on the concept of a more green funeral using sustainable materials.

“We have found that committing to only one funeral a day allows us to focus entirely on the family who we are looking after and to ensure that they have our undivided attention,” Mr Farrell said.

“It is not necessarily a good business move, but that is not primarily why we set up our company.”