Eco-Coffins Project

These coffins are sold to the indigent bereaved at a fraction of the normal price. Funerals are often expensive for the impoverished and many bereaved go into large debt. Initiated by government, the project is based at the Cedara Agricultural College in Howick, Pietermaritzburg. The Invasive Alien Species Programme (IASP) of the KZN Dept of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs (DAEA) has managed it since its inception in July 2005. This is done through the partnership of various government and civil society agencies. The Working for Water Programme (WfW) facilitates the clearing of alien plants and the management of the unskilled labour. Unemployed people are trained and used in the clearing and manufacturing process. The IASP is a major funder and is responsible for the implementation of the project and ensures that the right trees are cut, the wood is harvested and processed, and transported to the points of production. This is done through the contracting of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife that reports to the IASP. The Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), a UK-based secular body, channeled the World Bank grant to the pilot-project. The ARC lobby religious leaders for support internationally for world religions to develop their own environmental programmes across the globe. They provided guidance on how to get local faith-based and related organizations involved.

Innovation

This is an innovative way of creating employment by helping the environment through clearing alien vegetation and using it to manufacture coffins. South Africa’s death rate has increased by 56% for the period 1997-2002 and is continuously growing because of the HIV/ AIDS pandemic and the increase of violent crime in rural communities. This is a good
example of sustainable resource management with positive spin-offs like skills development and job creation.

Effectiveness

Coffins are normally sold between R2 000-R5 000 and up to R10 000. Eco-coffins range between R300-R440 with caskets selling at R1 990. The project together with faith-based organizations, offer the necessary funeral arrangements to the bereaved family at a lower price. They have manufactured over 1 500 coffins that amounts to the creation of 56 jobs.

Poverty Impact

The costs of funerals are crippling for the poor in many communities, and often worsen the grip of poverty. So indigent bereaved are assisted with these arrangements at a fraction of the usual price. Unemployed people are also assisted with skills development and job creation servicing the Eco-Coffins project.

Sustainability

5% of their budget came from the Dept of Water Affairs and Forestry and the ARC. 25 % (R1 million) was sourced from the World Bank. The biggest funder, KZN DAEA, donated 65% (R3 million) towards the budget. Their sustainability will rely on people buying in to this concept as their distribution currently is weak, but the IASP has secured funding for three years.

Replication

This project could be replicated across South Africa because of the need for inexpensive funeral plans, protection of biodiversity and job creation for the poor.

Partnerships

• Dept of Water Affairs and Forestry
• KZN: Dept of agriculture and Environmental Affairs
• World Bank
• Alliance of Religions and Conservation
• Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife