Our founder William Wainman started the business selling Bamboo based products after becoming fascinated by the material during 2½ years spent teaching English in China with the VSO.
A small factory was set up in the central Chinese province of Hunan to produce furniture creating a small team of fairly paid and supported craftspeople.
After a request by the British Embassy in Beijing, a small run of bamboo coffins were produced. These sold quickly and the factory started producing coffins full time.
The business was renamed Ecoffins reflecting the products environmentally friendly credentials.
Selected for a scholarship to the US Kellogg Graduate School of Management, William undertook pivotal market research at Funeral Homes across America and in 2006 his commitment to good working conditions and fair pay was recognised when Ecoffins became a member of the World Fair Trade Organisation, the first (and currently only) UK coffin manufacturer to obtain this status.
With continuing success in the UK, new ranges of eco friendly coffins were introduced including Willow, Pandanus, Pine and cardboard designs.
The Ecoffins team grew and developed policies reflecting best practise and a high performance working environment.
Always passionate about the Earth and our responsibilities to it, as the company grew, a purpose built eco friendly office and warehouse opened in rural Kent (designed by William Matthews the site architect for The Shard).
In China our Fair trade promises continued with the Hunan team also building an entirely new workshop and growing in size to support increased demand as the general public began to look for more eco friendly funeral alternatives.
The company remains a family business and is looking forward to the future with the development of new products and an ongoing commitment to promoting eco friendly funerals as well as the 10 principals of World Fair Trade.
Good Funeral Awards 2017
We were voted ‘Best coffin supplier’ for 2017 by The Good Funeral Awards. They singled out for our fantastic customer feedback and attention to detail of which we are very proud.
National Association of Funeral Directors
Established in 1905, the NAFD represents the interests of the entire spectrum of funeral directing businesses – including independent businesses, the Co-operative and other major funeral groups – who conduct in excess of 80% of UK funerals every year.
Coffin Casket and Shroud Association
Setting the standard for all coffins, caskets and shrouds sold in the UK, in particular those used for cremation and to encourage manufacturers of these products to adopt more green-minded practices in all aspects of their work. All of Ecoffins' coffins and caskets have been independently tested and certified fit for cremation by the CCSA.
Association of Green Funeral Directors
Working to help members of the public find funeral homes in their area which are willing to provide greener options in the funerals they carry out. In addition the AGFD works to encourage funeral directors to become more green-minded in all aspects of their work and help bring natural funerals into the mainstream.
World Fair Trade Organisation
The World Fair Trade Organisation is a global network of organisations representing the Fair Trade supply chain. Membership in WFTO organisations with credibility and identity by way of an international guarantee system, a place of learning, provides tools and training to increase market access, and creates a common voice that speaks out for Fair Trade and trade. Members must demonstrate 100% commitment to Fair Trade and apply the 10 WFTO Principles of Fair Trade to their supply chain. The works and achievements of its members make WFTO a global authority on Fair Trade and a guardian of Fair Trade values and principles.
The Good Funeral Guild
An association with an aim to create change in the funeral industry. Offering the opportunity for exchange of ideas between funeral professions while nurturing, supporting and encouraging progressive practice among undertakers and ceremony leaders. Raising public awareness of end-of-life and funeral consumer issues and lobbying HM Government and the funeral industry’s trade associations in support of the interests of funeral consumers.
