Certain materials, such as rubber, vinyl or latex, can emit toxic chemicals when cremated. Modern crematoria are fitted with filters to minimise the risk to the environment, but they cannot completely remove all harmful chemicals. For this reason, anything which may be toxic when cremated is barred from being placed in the coffin. As most shoes have rubber soles, or are made in such as way that it is not possible to identify every material involved in the construction, we do not allow them into the coffin.
These restrictions do not apply to burials, although we suggest that items that are not biodegradable may not be appropriate to be placed in the coffin.