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LifeArt cuts emissions by 60% |
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Tuesday, 13 April 2010 |
 Independent cremation tests on Australia’s leading eco-coffin manufactures has concluded that a cardboard coffins produce up to 60 per cent less greenhouse emissions than regular coffins made form MDF or medium density fiberboard.
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The study conducted by Stephenson Environmental Management on behalf of LifeArt Australia, found that MDF coffins produced pollutant levels 213 per cent higher than LifeArt coffins which are made from 97 per cent recycled fibers.
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The tests also concluded that making an MDF coffin releases the equivalent of about 33 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere, compared to 13kg of CO2 to produce a LifeArt coffin.
Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park lent LifeArt and Stephenson Enviromental Management (testing authority) their state of the art cremator for 2 days and conducted the cremations. Engineers from the cremator manufacturer Austeng installed a porthole in the flue to insert the sampling tubes and wires, monitored the cremator during the six tests and supplied LifeArt with the data readouts.
The study shows that MDF coffins take twice as long to burn, and release more than double the atmospheric pollutants than an equivalent LifeArt Enviroboard coffin.
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Of particular interest to New Zealand cremator operators is the finding that MDF coffins emit 80% more total particulate matter than Enviroboard coffins. The PM10 emissions from MDF coffins are 50% higher than from Enviroboard. These findings allay concerns about cardboard coffins being unsuitable for cremation in NZ.
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Natalie Verdon, Managing Director of LifeArt Australia said, “With cremation rates around 70 per cent in capital cities, it’s important that people have the option of reducing their own or their loved ones carbon emissions”. “
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| LifeArt coffins are manufactured using fibres recovered from recycled cardboard boxes and sugar cane waste and use cornstarch glue to make the coffins ultra-strong and lightweight,” Natalie said. |
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In an industry that’s seen minimal changes over the years, cardboard coffins enable the funeral industry to dramatically reduce its impact on the environment.
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LifeArt Australia has also commissioned a Life Cycle Analysis of coffins, expected to be completed this year.
Eckhard Kemmerer, who developed the Enviroboard coffin says “by using less material to make our product we have set the benchmark for emissions from cremations. This Australian development is attracting enormous interest from overseas markets.”
LifeArt coffins have set new standards in the use of recycled materials and in emissions for coffins.
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