A large lightweight molded coffin comprises a large pulp molded outer shell lined with a reinforcing spacer material such as single faced Re-board®, a honeycomb structure or a molded spacer material conforming to and adhering to said shell and an inner shell made of molded pulp or a paper based material. A method for manufacturing such a lightweight coffin involves pressing slurried pulp between a first male mold half covered with elastomeric material and a second female mold half, to form the molded pulp shell, and gluing the reinforcing spacer material to the interior of said outer molded pulp shell and the inner shell.