EveryBody Special is a new, low-cost wooden coffin created to meet extreme demand during emergency situations.
Designed by Dutch EveryBody Coffins, the EveryBody Special is a modular coffin that's extremely easy to assemble. No tools, nails or screws are required – the pieces just click together. The standard material used is 12 mm multilayered wood, and more environmentally friendly options are also available.
Since they're lightweight and packaged in flat-packs (Ikea-style), transporting EveryBody coffins is very cost efficient: up to 570 extra large (XL) caskets fit into a 20 foot container. Combined with their easy assembly, this makes the coffins highly suitable for burial and cremation in disaster areas and epidemic situations. The company hopes to offer a more dignified, humane alternative to plastic body bags that are often the only option when large-scale disaster strikes.
Besides selling to governmental and aid organisations, EveryBody is also offering its product to commercial distributors in those regions where consumers will welcome a low-cost alternative to expensive caskets. As we've pointed out before, everything can be reinvented!
Website: http://www.everybodycoffins.com
Contact: gijs.zijlstra@everybodycoffins.com
It's a nice idea, in a world of many problems. I had great sadness reading this article imagining the situations in which the need for this product arise. I found the cheery end with the exclamation mark a little distasteful. It's a good point but does it really need ramifying at the end of this article.
Not the same concept -- but related, though this one goes in the opposite direction -- customised, personalised, handpainted caskets and urns -- see http://www.dyingart.co.nz/
Regards
-Raewyn
Hu Raewyn, Thanks for your comment. Especially in the western markets we sell "EveryBody Special" for better dealing with grief. The bereaved can this way be involved in the burial proces by painting in and outside.
Best regards,
Gilbert Zijlstra, Founder of EveryBody Coffins.
Dear Pete,
I understand your sadness and this was exactly the reason why I started EveryBody Coffins. The inhumane way of accommodating bodies in epidemic and disaster areas results in traumatic distress for family, reliefworkers and bystanders. (Also the people at home watching the news) The development of a standard plain coffin might ad to a more uniform, controlled and less confronting handling of these unfortunate situations.
Gilbert Zijlstra,
Founder of EveryBody Coffins