It started with a death
Well, actually we have to go all the way back to two births at roughly the same time at a hospital in Molde. Stein Nerland and Trond Bugge, the founders of Rip Eco AS, were brought together as friends from birth in 1970 by parents who were already friends. However, the idea to start the company Rip Eco AS came between the two when one of the aforementioned parents was ill with cancer fifty-two years later and they discussed his upcoming death and funeral.
Stein had an idea and an early prototype for a new grave memorial lying in the studio. Together they concluded that the market for grave goods, which globally has shown a stable growth of 4% per year, should be ready for something new. Although the industry faces major challenges in terms of sustainability, safety and design, most things have remained unchanged and undone for decades.
Together they came to the conclusion that it was time to rethink the final rest
Stein Nerland has a Master of Fine Art degree from the University of Poznan and practices as an artist with a number of exhibitions and deliveries of monument sculptures to private and public institutions. He also has experience as Production Manager in Aftenposten and for a period was acting head of department at Oslo Municipality, Gravplassetaten.
Trond Bugge holds a Master of Marketing degree from the University of Greenwich in London and BI in Oslo. He has experience as a future strategist, global innovation leader at IKEA and venture builder at Ericsson. He has previously been successful as a mobile game entrepreneur and developer of a software platform for the retail trade. Industry expertise from board work at Gravminnesikring AS.
Stein Nerland, with experience from relevant projects and a focus on products with prototypes and factory visits
Trond Bugge, with background images and a focus on relationship building, innovation and presentation.
The company was established and received early support from Innovation Norway
Rip Eco AS was established in February 2023. Already in March we received confirmation of support for market clarification from Innovation Norway. A few months ago, the first version of the product Vannstein, then with two versions - Eastland and Westland - was ready for presentation at an industry meeting for funeral consultants in Trondheim. During the first year of operation, 11 fully paid gravestones were put in the ground.
During 2024, the company has renewed and further developed both products and patents and got ready for launch with dealers and a website where innovative gravestones can now be designed to order.
Today you can see the company's products physically represented by coming to our office and showroom in Holmsbu outside Oslo in Norway, and at Kungsholmen in Stockholm, Sweden, or by visiting some of our dealers and partners.
