Funeral Service Times August 2017 October 2018 | Page 5

DISPATCHES
Ecocoffin.com launch
Eclipse’ range of
eco-friendly coffins
The company’s range is in response to current pressures for people
to be more environmentally sound
Essex-based company, Ecocoffin.com, has launched its new range
of eco-friendly coffins in response to modern pressures to be more
responsible to the environment.
People are increasingly choosing to be ‘returned to nature’ in an
environmentally-friendly manner, and Ecocoffin.com is aiming to
make this possible. The company claims that one significant way to
contribute after death is by choosing an eco-coffin in advance. It also
claims it can help make this environmental pledge a reality.
Ecocoffin.com describes itself as a “young, innovative” company,
having been in existence for only a few years.
Ian Page, director, said: “We believe our coffins are the most
eco-friendly on the market, in fact, none of our products contain
metal or plastic, each coffin has been manufactured by craftsmen,
using wooden pegs and dowels to bind the construction very firmly
together.”
“Although conservation is at the heart of our coffins, we haven’t
neglected the aesthetics. Each coffin has been beautifully designed
and skilfully woven using either rattan or seagrass, both obtained
from fully sustainable sources, mango wood, available from trees that
can no longer produce fruit, is used to line and strengthen each coffin
and finally they are lined with soft organic cotton.”
For further information visit www.ecocoffin.com or
call 01277 815 055.
Watford named as the UK’s
most expensive place to die
The cost of a funeral in the town is 37 percent more than the UK
average
Funeral directors in Watford are charging 37 percent more than
the UK average, according to new research by funeral comparison
website Beyond.
The English town is the most expensive place to have a funeral,
at an average cost of £5,814 - putting London at second place at
£5,749, with Redhill in third at £5,352. The price of the average UK
funeral is now £4,241.
This represents a rise of 33 percent in only two years as in 2016,
the average was £3,190.
This spike is being fuelled by price hikes among the big chains,
who have raised their already-high fees by more than £500 in two
years. For their services alone, customers may pay an average of
£3,573, and this is before the added cost of the cremation or burial.
Meanwhile, independent funeral directors, who represent
roughly a third of the market, have actually been found to have
dropped their fees over the past 12 months.
Funerals in Guildford, Liverpool and Brighton are all more than
£5,000 on average, as they are in Newport, which is comfortably
the most expensive place in Wales at £5,149 and the sixth priciest
in the UK overall. By contrast, Cardiff ranks 75th at an average cost
of £3,812.
Meanwhile in Scotland, Aberdeen ranks as costliest, with an
average funeral in the Granite City being £4,942 - the next priciest
Scottish cities are Perth (£4,586, 25th), Inverness (£4,495, 32nd) and
Motherwell (£4,245, 53rd).
James Dunn, co-founder of Beyond, said: "It looks like a football
league but this is one table you don’t want to be topping. A lack
of transparency in the funeral market is what’s fuelling price rises,
particularly among the big chains.
Death means big business, with
half a million Brits dying every
year, but a disinclination to shop
around is resulting in mourners,
who are often vulnerable, paying
over the odds.”
www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk
Funeral Partners acquires
Sunderland business
The funeral firm is looking to strengthen its presence in the north east
Funeral Partners has acquired a 25 year old Sunderland funeral
directors as part of its plan to strengthen its presence in the north east.
Family-run business John G Hogg Funeral Directors was established
by John Hogg in 1993 and he will continue to serve as business
principal under the funeral firm. Hogg’s partner Claire and son John
Hogg jr will remain as funeral directors within the dedicated team.
Hogg, 50, said: “I wanted to slow down a bit but still play an active
part in the business. When I spoke to Funeral Partners, I liked the way
they could take the business to the next level while carrying forward
our family values and continuing to serve the families we have served
for many years.”
Hogg joined the funeral industry from school, in his first year he
carried out a small number of funerals, building up his reputation and
business to now look after hundreds of families every year.
Sam Kershaw, CEO of Funeral Partners, added: “John G Hogg is the
eighth business to join us in 2018 as we deliver on our aim of growing
Funeral Partners, and firmly establishing ourselves as the UK’s third
largest group of quality funeral homes. We are committed to investing
in and supporting respected businesses while maintaining their
heritage and traditions of service to their communities.”
SEPTEMBER 2018
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