Sophia Campbell‑Shaw and Abi Griffin smiling in willow workshop, founders of Woven Farewell Coffins

About Woven Farewell Coffins

Our story

Woven Farewell Coffins was born from a passion for creating meaningful eco coffins that honor both life and the environment. Our sustainable approach to funeral practices merges respect for tradition, craftsmanship, and the need for more personal farewells.

Our story spans two workshops - one in Devon, one in Sheffield - each rooted in personal experience with loss and renewal. Together, we create coffins that serve families seeking meaningful, sustainable alternatives to conventional options.

Meet Sophia & Abi

Sophia Campbell-Shaw

Founder, Devon workshop

Sophia began learning basketry as part of her bereavement support in 2012. Six years on, in combination with another bereavement, her firstborn and a "life's too fleeting not to do what we love!" epiphany, Woven Farewell Coffins was born.

Abi Griffin

Sheffield workshop

Abi started work in the funeral sector at 21 when she became a gravedigger working at a natural burial ground.
She perceives willow coffin weaving as a special ritual that forms meaning in the growing greening of funeral practices in the UK.

Our sustainability pillars

Eco-Friendly Materials

Our handwoven willow coffins use completely biodegradable materials. As well as locally produced willow and lid timber, our handles are made from hemp rope, the base is made from sterling OSB that uses no formaldehyde, responsibly sourced timber and only bio-based resins. Our coffins are lined with soft biodegradable calico cotton, on top of an innovative corn starch waterproof lining.

Carbon impact

Willow is produced by Somerset farmers, supporting regenerative growth and reducing the carbon footprint of production. Willow is a carbon negative crop as it absorbs more CO₂ than it emits during its lifecycle. The willow used in coffins is coppiced annually, meaning it regenerates every year.

Community give back

We donate 5% of each coffin profit to the Woodland Trust, the UK's largest woodland conservation that is dedicated to protecting and restoring native woodlands. This gift towards a nature-enhancing organisation is symbolic of the life-death-life cycle, an essential pillar of our philosophy in crafting coffins.