Our Never-Ending Commitment
At Somerset Willow, we take our role as a responsible business seriously. Since our beginnings in 1959, we’ve remained guided by the same values. It’s important to us to respect people, care for the environment, and believe that even the smallest actions can make a meaningful difference. Responsibility, for us, is woven into every decision we make, not just in our products but in the way we support people and the environment.
As part of our commitment to the rural communities involved in making our Natural Woven coffins, we donate 10% of the proceeds from each sale to the Yayasan Usaha Mulia (YUM) Foundation. Through our direct partnership with YUM, we help fund vital education, health, and community development projects in the region where our coffins are handcrafted. In the past year alone, YUM provided monthly health check-ups for around 280 elderly residents, supported after-school tutoring for over 800 children, offered stunting prevention education to 1,700 parents, and delivered employability skills training to 435 young people. These initiatives have created a real, measurable impact, and we’re proud to be playing a small but meaningful part in that change.
We ensure responsible sourcing by working with our suppliers directly and maintaining a long-standing, transparent relationship. We regularly review working conditions and practices to make sure we both uphold the ten principles of Fair Trade that we stand by. These include paying a fair price, fair trading practices, good working conditions, ensuring no child or forced labour is employed, creating opportunities, and a commitment to non-discrimination. This ongoing collaboration strengthens our supply chain and helps build long-term stability for the communities involved.
We’re equally mindful of our environmental impact. To help offset the carbon footprint of transporting our coffins from Indonesia to the UK, we’ve introduced a tree-planting initiative. This not only compensates for emissions from shipping but also contributes to long-term carbon reduction, creating a positive and lasting legacy. In addition, we take great care in sourcing our materials, ensuring that both our Somerset Willow and Natural Woven coffins are made exclusively from natural, sustainable resources. From highly renewable willow to agricultural byproducts like banana leaves that would otherwise go to waste, all our materials are chosen for their renewability and minimal environmental impact.
For us, responsibility isn’t just about business; it’s about honouring the values which formed our family company. Every coffin we craft, and every community we support, continues a legacy that began over 65 years ago from the small, humble beginnings of a father and son with a modest investment and a belief in doing the right thing.