The carrier as an alternative

What is a carrier?

During a ceremony, a carrier (or stretcher) can be used as an alternative to a coffin. The special thing about this is that the body is a little closer during the farewell than if it were lying in a coffin. Instead, the body is wrapped in a shroud, a soft cloth that is opened or closed at the head. This invites you to be close to the deceased one last time, while the body is respectfully covered. A stretcher with a shroud offers a perfect middle ground between distance and proximity.

Various carriers

Stretchers, or carriers, can take many forms. For example, there are woven baskets, tied branches and specially shaped wood. All our carriers can be carried by six people and can handle up to 115 kilos. Crematoria usually require carriers to have a flat bottom plate and an upright edge, in order for the machine to work. If the design you like doesn't have these features, you can always use a Cremation input board.

Below you can view some of our carriers:

Bamboo carrier

The Bamboo carrieris made of bamboo, a crop that grows extremely quickly and easily. No pesticides or additional water supply are needed to grow it, which makes bamboo an environmentally and nature-friendly material. The bamboo sticks are woven together with rattan, a liana from Indonesia.

The Willow carrier

This carrier is made of Dutch willow branches. The Willow carrier is a very natural choice, because the willow branches are recycled pruning wood. The dark willow branches also give a beautiful rustic look. If you are looking for a suitable sustainable shroud for this bier, we recommend the Hemp shroud.

The Willow shell

The Willow shell is made of willow branches, just like the Willow carrier, but of thinner branches that are woven together more tightly. Six recesses are left in the wickerwork that serve as handles. The shape is beautifully rounded, like a basket in which someone lies both sheltered and open.

Comfort carrier

The Comfort carrier is made of willow twigs, just like the Willow shell, but in different colours. The twigs are partly peeled, which gives a light colour contrast. The shape also seems the same, but is a bit more wavy and playful. A soft sheepskin mattress is included in the basket.

Rattan carrier

The Rattan carrier is also a type of basket and has upright edges. It is also equipped with cotton lining and a pillow. The Rattan carrier is available in two colours: dark and light.

The curved carrier

The Curved carrier is a minimalist and functional stretcher made of curved beech wood. The carrier is designed as a reference to how ancient Vikings used to be placed on a boat.

Basic carrier

The Basic carrier is a simple, sober carrier. The clear shape and light colour make the carrier suitable for any funeral. The simplicity also makes the colour of the selected shroud stand out more. The carrier can also be purchased together with the Basic shroud in the Basic set.

Carrier pricing

To meet everyone's needs, we offer carriers in different prices, ranging from €349 to €775. The main reasons for the difference in price are the material and the processing. For example, the bamboo of our Bamboo carrier is a very fast growing material compared to willow branches. In addition, careful work or alterations, such as bending wood for our Earth Board and weaving our Willow shell , are quite labor-intensive. Ultimately, we find it most important that both the cheaper and the more expensive carriers are of good quality.

Without a coffin: carrier and shroud

To replace a coffin, in addition to a carrier, a shroud is also required. A complete set is available from just €490 with our Bamboo set, which is cheaper than most coffins. This set was specially developed for an affordable Green funeral and is fully naturally biodegradable. Because there is a lot of variation in the price of both shrouds and carriers, you have complete control over the final costs.

Make it soft

Perhaps it looks uncomfortable, such a hard wooden board, and you want the deceased to be a little more comfortable. It's possible to add a Wool mattress or our Sheepskin mattress. We also have a soft pillow. These products are specially designed for use on a carrier. Moreover, they are produced completely sustainably and are of course biodegradable.