Well, now we can carry on even beyond that.
A Wigan coffin maker, which went back to the drawing board to make its products more environmentally friendly, has been shortlisted for a major award for its achievements.

Alan Roby has for the past 18 months been the "green champion" at Thorley Smith and the end product involves some very clever bits of joinery which solve a perennial problem without the need for plastics.

At the heart of his challenge was the ultra-sensitive issue of leakage prevention which used to be solved by materials such as pitch but latterly by a plastic lining. But both need industrial processes for their creation, thereby increasing the casket's carbon footprint.

What made the Clayton Street-based firm catch the eye of judges in the North West Business Environment Awards was a unique patented joint system which makes the coffin leak-proof on their own.

The shortlisted product also has other eco-friendly properties in that it is made from solid pine – which is renewable and grows quickly – from European accredited forest sources.

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