Eco-friendly: Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau (left) inspects an eco-coffin in Japan.

Eco-coffins will be promoted in Hong Kong to cut toxic emissions and streamline cremation services, Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau says.

Made of corrugated cardboard, the coffins save materials and energy and are becoming increasingly popular across Asia and in Europe. They produce less toxic gas during combustion and cut cremation time by more than half, easing mortuary demand by allowing for more sessions per day.

Mrs Yau today visited an environment-friendly coffin company in Japan to study the country's cremation policy and practices, and their applicability in Hong Kong.

"The eco-coffin coincides with the philosophy of the integration of humans and nature. Due respect is given to the deceased, regardless of a simple or magnificent coffin," Mrs Yau said.

"We will further study the material and design of the coffin and promote the application of the eco-coffin in Hong Kong to bring out the concept of paying tribute to the deceased through protecting the environment."

The Government has six public crematoria providing 32 cremators with a total capacity of about 34,400 cremation sessions a year.