Patrick Barkham: The greenest way to go to the grave

Wendy Richard's funeral was notable not just for the number of EastEnders stars among the mourners but the fact that her coffin was woven from bamboo.Richard's family chose an eco-friendly coffin because they did not want a tree to be chopped down, according to its manufacturer, Ecoffins. The company stresses its environmental credentials: the bamboo is harvested from sustainable, licensed plantations and is not the species eaten by pandas; its Chinese factory is certified Fairtrade. With smart packing, they claim the shipping of one coffin from China uses the same amount of fuel as driving a car 4.63 miles. Continue reading...