Eco-friendly funerals
As people become more aware of their impact on the environment, they’re looking for ways to reduce their own carbon footprint. One of the ways they can do this is by choosing an eco-friendly funeral, sometimes known as a green funeral. But what does this mean, and how can funerals be kinder to the environment?
The content on this page talks about alternative funeral methods and products that people perceive to be more environmentally friendly. It also details Co-op Funeralcare's ambition to be a more sustainable business by investing in innovative solutions. We are not claiming that these alternatives have no impact on the environment, but rather they seek to reduce the overall environmental impact of our clients and the business as a whole.
What eco-friendly options are there for funerals?
When talking about eco-friendly funerals, most people are looking for ways to make a funeral less harmful to the environment. They may want to use less harmful or wasteful materials for the preparation of the body and during the burial process.
Not only does this type of funeral have less impact on the environment but it also offers a more natural outdoor setting for the memorial service.
3 eco-friendly funeral options
- A natural or green burial in a memorial ground or cemetery
- A natural or green burial in a woodland
- A natural or green burial in your home or private land
What are green burials?
Green burials, also known as natural burials, are considered to be eco-friendly burials which have as little impact on the environment as possible.
The person can be buried in a natural coffin or sometimes they are allowed to be wrapped in a simple shroud instead. With green burials, embalming isn’t usually permitted, due to the chemicals that are used in the process.
At a green burial, the body is committed to the ground with a small service of your choice. In some burial grounds, you may be allowed to have a simple, biodegradable memorial placed in the location of the body. However, some green-funeral locations may not allow a memorial of any kind, in order to leave no trace on the land.
Woodland burial grounds
Woodland burial plots are set amongst trees and wildflowers, providing a pleasant setting for families to bury their loved ones. It's also possible to bury or scatter the cremated ashes of a loved one within woodland burial grounds.
Why choose an eco funeral or green burial?
People are becoming more aware of and concerned about their impact on the environment. Some people choose to have eco funerals, as they care about their environmental impact in life, and want to do the same after their death.
A natural burial returns a body to the earth in as natural a way as possible. This generally takes place in green spaces, such as wildflower meadows, protected woodland and parkland, which can be more pleasant locations to commemorate a loved one.
Green funerals are also a lot more flexible when it comes to the service or memorial. You may wish to choose a green funeral in order to have a simple, personalised service which focuses more on stories of your loved one in a scenic location.
Is cremation eco-friendly?
One way to help make a cremation be more eco-friendly would be to make sure no harmful chemicals are used in the embalming process before cremation. There's also less waste when no casket or burial ground is required.
However, whilst cremation has less impact than a traditional burial, it still has a significant carbon footprint as cremations use considerable amounts of energy. For that reason, many believe the cremation is not as eco-friendly as a green burial. However, this may change as we're starting to see electric cremators which use renewable energy be fitted in the UK.
Are eco funerals cheaper?
Due to the simplicity of eco funerals, they can work out cheaper than traditional funeral services.
You still need to buy a burial plot for a green burial, which can vary in price depending on the location. There's also the cost of the natural coffin, which depends on the materials chosen.
One of the benefits of choosing more eco-friendly options is that the funeral can often become a simpler service which in turn may lower the cost.
How much do green funerals cost?
The cost of a green burial depends on the area that you choose for your plot.
Speak to your local funeral director about planning a green funeral or have a look at our funeral cost calculator for burial prices in your area.
Where can I have an eco funeral?
Green burials and eco funerals typically take place in an established woodland or natural burial ground. Speak to your local funeral director about the options available locally.
Graves are marked by the planting of a natural memorial, such as a tree and the placing of a simple wooden or bronze plaque instead of a traditional headstone. And our range of coffins include bamboo, banana leaf or cardboard as well as more conventional natural options.
Tips for a greener funeral
How can we ‘go green’ when it’s our time to go? Luckily, there are a number of simple swaps that can be made to reduce the impact a funeral has on the environment. From natural urns to an electric hearse, there are simple swaps that everyone can make.
- Choose seasonal flowers to help reduce the carbon footprint and consider reusing them at home or donating them to a local nursing home. Ask if your florist can use biodegradable materials such as moss rather than floral foam or polystyrene, and bamboo picks to replace metal pins.
- If you don’t want to post out paper invites, you could put an announcement in the local paper, email guests or send out invites via social media. When it comes to the order of service, many of us still prefer to have something we can keep. But rather than having a printed order of service, you can create an e-book that can be sent to as many people as you like.
- There are several simple green transport swaps you can make. First of all, ask guests to car share or take public transport. If you’re planning a funeral procession, can some of it be done on foot? Is it easy for family and friends to walk to the church or cemetery?
- Natural burials mean using less harmful materials, so the impact on the environment is as small as possible. Embalming isn’t usually permitted, due to the chemicals involved, but you could ask your funeral director if they can use a lower index embalming fluid. Coffins should be made from natural materials, and some green burial sites ask that your loved one is wrapped in a funeral shroud.
- Whether you’re scattering the ashes or decide to keep them at home, you can now choose urns made from natural and more sustainable materials. From an acorn-shaped biodegradable urn to a Traidcraft casket woven from bamboo or water hyacinth, there’s a greener choice to suit your loved one.
- There are some simple green swaps you can make for memorial ceremonies too. Campaigners advise against balloon releases because they may harm wildlife, including birds, and leave dangerous materials (such as plastic) in the environment for years. Instead, you could ask guests to blow bubbles or throw flower petals, which won’t harm wildlife. You can also float paper boats downstream – use seeded paper, so they have a positive impact on the planet when they break down – or choose a water journey urn to send your loved one’s ashes on their final journey.
At Co-op Funeralcare, we’re here to help you arrange a funeral exactly the way you want it, whenever you need us. If you'd like to speak with us about eco-friendly options, please contact your local funeral home.
An alternative way to say goodbye
We're looking to the future to see what we can do to provide potentially greener alternatives for families and their loved ones.
Say a special goodbye with our premium electric hearses
As part of a wider climate action plan, we’ve invested significant money into launching a new range of all-electric vehicles. These fully electric hearses will will be rolled out across care centres, which will also be fitted out with electric charging points, with each new fully electric vehicle averaging a one and a half tonne CO2 reduction when driven compared to their hybrid predecessors*.
The Mustang Mach-E vehicles, which make up the majority of our electric fleet, deliver on being emission-free without compromising on the comfort or functionality that's expected from a ceremonial limousine or hearse.
*According to the specifications produced by the vehicle convertors, and our fleet sustainability reporting.
Go green with our products and services
We're starting to introduce alternative products, such as urns made from natural and biodegradable materials. These can be kept in your home or can be buried within the ground, giving more choice for those who choose a natural burial.
We’re working with crematoria to see how funeral services can be more eco-friendly, from holding services outside to reduce energy use, to repurposing energy used during cremations to heat their buildings when services are held inside.
Building a more sustainable future with FSC certified wood coffins
At Co-op Funeralcare, we’re committed to reversing the damage caused by the clearing of forestland. As part of this commitment, we’ve pledged to achieve zero deforestation across the products we use, with a target to reach this by the end of 2025.
98% of coffins manufactured by us in 2023 were made from FSC® certified wood, ensuring forests are managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people, in a way that is economically viable for the future.
