Health officials in Hong Kong have come up with a plan to help the environment and cut crematorium congestion at the public mortuary. The plan is the introduction of eco-friendly coffins, which they say burn faster than regular coffins and produce less toxic gases.

Cremating the dead is more common and affordable practice than burials in land-scarce Hong Kong.

The government said it has six crematoria which provides about 94 cremation sessions every day. But still the families of the dead often have to wait more than 10 days for an open slot at a crematorium.

The corrugated, green-colored, cardboard coffins have already gained popularity in Japan and Europe.

"With less time required for each session, we can arrange more sessions per day to cut queuing time for cremation," Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Carrie Yau said in a statement.

However, the eco-coffins could face opposition from residents, for whom spending on funerals is a sign of respect for the dead.

But Yau insisted that the "eco-coffin coincides with the Asian philosophy of integration between man and nature," and that the deceased will be cremated with due respect "regardless of a simple or magnificent coffin."