Green Funerals
Green Funerals – Environmentally Friendly Funeral Services
People are increasingly concerned about the impact they have on the world we live in. We are often asked, “What is a green funeral?” or “How much is a green funeral going to cost?” by those who are concerned about the environmental impact of a traditional burial or cremation. However, there are now many types of green funerals available that aim to reduce the impact of a funeral on the environment without inflating the costs.
At Full Circle Funerals, our funeral professionals are proud to offer sustainable funeral options for those who wish to consider the planet in their choices. Whether you are looking for a completely eco-friendly funeral or want to simply incorporate some sustainable elements, we can help. A funeral is often a time for reflection and choosing green funeral practices can be a powerful signal to those in attendance.
As with any type of funeral, there are many options to choose from. If you need help in making decisions, or want professional advice on the ecological impact of your choices, get in touch with Full Circle Funerals today.
What is a Green Funeral?
Green funerals can refer to any type of funeral service that is designed with minimal environmental impact in mind. They may be considered an alternative to traditional burials or cremation, both of which can have negative effects on the environment – cremation by generating greenhouse gases and burial because of the risk that embalming fluids may leak into the ground and the impact of producing and maintaining burial grounds and headstones.
There are many aspects of the funeral service that can be adjusted to be more environmentally friendly, including everything from the flowers you choose to the treatment of the body of the person who has died. While there is no single approach to a green funeral, it can help to understand the options that are available when making your decisions.
Green burial and natural burial grounds
Burial, compared to cremation, is likely to be a greener choice for those seeking an eco-funeral. Cremation is historically associated with mercury, dioxin and carbon monoxide emissions, while burial is not. More information can be found in a Planet Mark report on sustainability in funeral services that is linked below.
Among the most common green funerals are services held at natural burial grounds. At a natural burial ground, bodies are buried closer to the surface so that they can decompose aerobically. This allows nutrients to feed back into the environment and, as such, natural burials are considered among the most eco-friendly options.
The popularity of these eco-burials (also called eco-friendly burials) in the UK has increased significantly over the last few years, and there are now many natural burial sites to choose from throughout the country
Biodegradable coffins and caskets
Choosing a biodegradable coffin made from natural materials such as cardboard or wool can be an effective way to minimise your impact on the environment. However, it may also be important to know how far a biodegradable coffin has travelled. More locally grown and manufactured options may be preferable if you are committed to the minimum ecological impact.
If you would prefer a wooden (or wood effect) coffin, then selecting one made from locally sourced hardwoods (like oak or cherry) or softwoods (like pine) can make for a more environmentally friendly funeral than other options. Manufacturers will be able to advise where the wood has been grown and whether it is registered with the Forest Stewardship Council.
Contrary to widespread belief, you do not have to use a coffin at all. Alternatives, such as a material shroud, are increasingly popular. This may be particularly suitable for natural burial services and eco-burials. However, it has been suggested the use of a shroud for a cremation can inadvertently increase the carbon emissions of this process.
Low-impact travel
You may wish to consider how far the body and funeral attendees travel to the service if you want to minimise the overall carbon footprint. If there are no natural burial grounds in your local area, travelling a long distance to the nearest site could have a negative impact on the environment.
To help, Full Circle Funerals offers the use of our electric hearse and limousine. This enables the person who has died and the key attendees to attend the service without worrying about carbon emissions, and sends a clear message to other attendees about your environmental commitment.
Other options include choosing a local burial ground and having the service in the same location, if possible, to minimise travel. Encourage attendees to travel together in shared cars or arrange for a larger vehicle to collect groups of attendees.
From eco burials to green funerals in the UK, there are many ways to incorporate environmentally conscious decisions into funeral planning. It would be our honour to support you and help you to understand more about sustainable funerals. If you are interested in planning an eco-friendly funeral or want advice on natural burial grounds and other related options, get in touch with the Full Circle Funerals team today.
Why Choose Full Circle Funerals?
If you’re wondering how to plan an eco-friendly funeral or asking what an eco-friendly funeral service might involve, the team at Full Circle Funerals can help. We can offer advice on all of the elements of environmentally friendly funerals to help you plan the perfect service.
We were the first UK funeral director to become a certified B Corp and won the “Green Funeral Director of the Year” in the 2021 National Good Funeral Awards because people and the planet matter to us. We understand that many people are seeking environmental funeral options and are curious about what is the most eco-friendly funeral or how to make a traditional funeral more eco-friendly. We are here to guide you through the process.
For those asking, “How much does an eco funeral cost?”, we are also committed to providing a clear understanding of the costs involved in eco funerals and eco-friendly burials, to help you make the right choices. All funeral costs depend on the choices that you make and we’ll remain transparent and open throughout the process to help you
Please get in touch if you would like to express your wishes, or if you need to arrange a funeral and would like to explore environmental funeral choices. We support families across Yorkshire and Greater Manchester with eco-friendly funerals, but we are always happy to answer questions and give advice to anyone from further afield. Whether you’re looking for green funeral directors or simply want to learn more about eco-friendly funerals and environmental funeral options, Full Circle Funerals is here to help.
Where we’re located:
Our funeral directors offer alternatives to traditional burial or cremation across our funeral homes in Yorkshire and the North West. Whether you want a green burial at a natural burial ground, or simply a traditional funeral with minimal pollution or environmental impact, we can help.
We can also advise you on planning a green funeral elsewhere in the country. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you.
FAQs About Green Funerals
What are the key considerations when planning a green funeral?
As we have noted above, some of the most important choices to make for an eco-friendly funeral are whether you want a burial or a cremation, the location where it will be held and transportation. Examining natural burial sites or electric vehicles is a great start and, in fact, there are many other arrangements that can be made to be sure a funeral is as environmentally sound as possible.
Some of the other things to consider if you aim to create a low-impact, eco-friendly funeral include:
Embalming: Avoid embalming to ensure that formaldehyde does not leak into the ground after burial.
Flowers: Source flowers locally, or handpick them from your own garden. Avoid the use of cellophane and oasis in floral arrangements, and aim to use only natural, biodegradable materials.
Order of Service Booklets: Minimise the use of funeral stationery and recycle any paper after the ceremony.
Location: Choose a memorial location that you can visit without having to travel far by car.
Speak to our team about the options available and we can help you to consider all of the details to create a green funeral that reflects the full extent of your commitment to the Earth.
Is there any research into the most eco-friendly funeral choices?
Until recently, there was no expert, independent and publicly available information about the relative impact of these choices. Thanks to community-funded research, we now have access to data that can help you make greener choices and low-impact funerals – and help the industry achieve net-zero.
The research was carried out by the experts at Planet Mark using Life Cycle Analysis on two key elements of the funeral process: the impact of different coffin materials and body committal/disposal options. While the research is not exhaustive and there is much to be learned, it provides the most transparent and independent data publicly available now.
You can access the report below.
