Sustainability and our impact on the environment is a topic at the top of a lot of people’s list. From air travel to the diets we eat, it affects every element of our lives, including funerals. If your loved one has asked for an eco-funeral service, it can be difficult to know where to start – especially at an already difficult time. But from the coffins and caskets to the memorials you can choose from, there are plenty of ways you can give your loved one the eco-friendly send off they wanted, while still celebrating their life fittingly.
Read on below to find out more about the different choices you can make when organising an eco-friendly funeral.
Coffins, Caskets, and Urns
One of the first eco friendly funeral options you have is to choose an environmentally friendly coffin, casket or urn. The coffins can be made of a range of green materials, including materials such as wool, wicker, willow and bamboo. These can be made even more environmentally friendly by having a green or natural burial. If you wish for a cremation service, these can also be done in an eco-friendly way.
Choose Biodegradable
You could choose to print the order of service, invitations, or memorial cards on biodegradable or recycled paper, in order to help mitigate the impact on the environment. Likewise, if you’re having a wake, opt for biodegradable plates and cutlery for the food, bamboo being a popular choice for its green credentials.
Eco-Friendly Memorials
There are also ways we can honour the life of a loved one after the funeral. If you like the idea of getting a memorial bench made, why not plant a memorial tree instead, a nice way of symbolising how though one life has ended, another is just beginning. If your loved one was a keen gardener, you could consider planting a memorial garden in their name, filling it with flowers and plants that they loved.
Eco-Friendly Funeral Ideas
There are so many elements to consider when arranging a funeral. Here are some more ideas you could consider when respecting your loved one’s wishes for an eco-friendly funeral service:
- Instead of a headstone, consider planting a tree to mark your loved one’s grave
- Asking people to donate the money to an environmental charity instead of paying for flowers
- Instead of sending paper invitations, go digital
From choosing a fitting coffin to asking for donations to an environmental charity in your loved one’s name, there are a whole host of options that you can choose from to make it an eco-friendly funeral and celebrate the legacy of those no longer with us.
Visit our blog if you want to find out more about arranging a funeral for your loved one. Or if you have any questions, get in touch with our friendly team, we’re here to support you and your family.