The overall impact of our actions on the world; the things we do, use and consume all have some kind of knock-on effect on the environment, and a funeral can also be planned with these considerations.
Environmentally Friendly Funerals
Preparation
Clothing
For the deceased person, choose clothing that is made from cotton or linen or an alternative is a shroud or grown made of biodegradable materials. Some people choose to make these arrangements early, and in some cases, make themselves or have a custom shroud created including tapestry, drawings, painting and appliqué to create something unique.
Casket
There are now more options than ever for a casket, and although a traditional wooden casket will still decompose and is a great option for many, materials such as bamboo, pine, willow, British wool, banana leaf and cardboard are now a readily available option for those looking for something that goes a little further.
You can choose to purchase your casket ahead and customise it however you would like, for example, some people purchase a cardboard cupboard and decorate it with pictures, drawings and custom imagery to make the casket more personalised.
Hygiene treatment
When you’re looking for a completely natural approach, hygiene treatment is a service which can be omitted to further reduce the potential of chemicals getting into the ground.
These treatments are a way for you to be able to pay your respects to your loved-one after they have passed, allowing you to see them looking their best. They are also necessary for people who pass away overseas and need to be returned to their home country.
If you choose to omit the hygiene treatment, you may be limited in your ability to visit with a relative, to the first few days following their passing. Your funeral director will be able to advise you on the most appropriate treatment for your specific requirements, and will endeavour to provide you with a suitable approach.
Service
Flowers
Many people now choose to request donations in lieu of flowers now, as they are often at a loss of what to do with the after the funeral and are keen to reduce waste. If you would like to have flowers but are unsure of how to approach this, you can choose to create your own bouquet, perhaps from your garden or wildflowers from local fields – making use of local flora where possible.
There are lots of online tutorials online which will show you how to display these into a beautiful arrangement. You can then choose to keep them after the ceremony, leave them at the graveside or donate them to a local business such as a hospice or retirement home.
Grave marker
Another change you may choose to make is to select a natural monument instead of a traditional headstone. A fruit tree, flower bush or even a small wooden marker are all good alternatives and can be more affordable too. Some green burial sites may offer a flat memorial engraved stone to identify the grave, but it’s important to check with the cemetery management before placing an order or trying to install a memorial.
Alternatively, you may choose to have no marker at all – however, the gravesite will be noted with your name so that you can be located for anyone looking to pay their respects.
Travel
As you may be aware, reducing car travel or car sharing can reduce your overall carbon footprint. This is also true for funerals, and instead arranging a memorial service in a more central location for all attendants can reduce the overall environmental impact of a funeral.
There are also other options for family or friends located overseas or unable to travel, such as a webcast or a recording can be good options for ensuring everyone is included. Donations to charities can be made online instead of via post, leaving a memorial on a web page and paying to offset the carbon footprint of the funeral overall.
You may also be able to request an electric powered hearse and/or cars for those attending the funeral, reducing your impact on the environment whilst still being able to attend.
Burial or Cremation
Both burial and cremation have their benefits, however, for optimum impact on the environment, a green burial site is the most suitable. There are many options across the UK, situated in forests and fields, embracing nature and offering a tranquil space to visit in remembrance.
A prerequisite for many green burial sites is that those laid to rest there are not embalmed. This is to ensure that the least amount of chemicals are distributed into the soil, which can affect the local wildlife.
Yorkshire Natural Burial Grounds
There are a number of sites locally, where people can be laid to rest in an area dedicated to a green approach to burial and funerals. A few of these can be found below:
Tarn Moor Woodland Burial Site
Located on the outskirts of Skipton, this natural burial ground is on the threshold of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and opened in November 2002. The overarching aim of the site is to keep it as natural as possible, providing a habitat to local fauna and wildlife. There is no physical identification at the burial site, however, the management undertakes accurate plotting and recording in order to ensure that visitors can locate their loved ones.
Rose Hill Natural Burial Ground
Situated in Huddersfield, the site houses mature oaks, beech and ash trees and is set within traditional English parkland, unchanged for five centuries. The grounds attract people of all religions and also those having no religion at all. Most of the graves have Cumbrian green slate plaques as identification for relatives and friends.
The location includes a grade II listed manor house which doubles as a chapel area and is ideal for a funeral tea, with catering services and a bistro available on site.
Lawnswood Cemetery
Lying on the outskirts of the wider Leeds area, Lawnswood Cemetery in Adel is a grade II park and garden. This cemetery also includes a woodland burial site, suitable for a natural burial.
