Green Funerals

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With climate change being a hot topic in recent years, it makes sense that the bereavement industry also needs to consider ways to be more environmentally friendly, such as Green Funerals.

Our clients when considering their funeral instructions to include in their Wills often discuss the more environmentally friendly funeral options which are available to them.

There are many aspects of a funeral to think about when trying to keep the negative impact on the environment to a minimum.

There are more obvious aspects that may have already been thought of, such as the materials the coffin is made of which use countless trees and many chemicals to ensure the coffin will last a long time.

Green Funerals

A standard flame cremation may seem more environmentally friendly, but these release a large amount of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

There are also other more hidden factors that may sometimes be overlooked. The cellophane around a bunch of flowers for example, or the carbon footprint used in travelling to the location of the funeral or cemetery.

Our clients are leaving letters of instruction to their Executors or to the family members who will be arranging their funerals addressing these issues. One example is that they may prefer a donation to their preferred charity in place of any floral tributes, another by simply requesting that there be no service (if a service has taken place in a place of worship) or even any attendance at the crematorium at all, whereby the deceased will travel alone in the company of the funeral director only in an effort to reduce additional travel. For our ever more environmentally conscious clients these considerations are important to them.

As more people become aware of their impact on the environment, they are likely to want the values they hold dear to them in life to be reflected in their death. We are finding that our clients, in their funeral planning, are forward thinking with a desire to protect the environment for their children and future generations.

It is therefore important that professionals in the sector are aware of the different options available to someone who is wanting a greener funeral.

One option is a natural burial, where the coffin is made of natural biodegradable material allowing fauna and flora to grow and encouraging the local species to flourish. Our clients are able to find their local natural burial locations and provide us with their specific instructions of their preferred burial location to be included in their Wills.

Another, less known option, is a water cremation, which is the gentle process of returning the body to ashes using water and a small amount of alkali-based solution to speed up the natural process the body goes through at the end of life. Desmond Tutu chose and recently underwent this type of cremation.

Once the process is complete, families receive the ashes to treasure as they wish, in the same way they would with a traditional cremation.

Subject to planning permission and any environmental guidelines, liquid cremations could potentially become an alternative choice to traditional style cremations. Resomation Ltd, has been developing the alternative cremation technology in Leeds, with hopes it will not be long before liquid cremation becomes on par with traditional cremation technology.

Kirsty Oliver from Resomation states:

“Resomation is the name given to water cremation and is the new environmentally friendly alternative to flame cremation and burial.

“Giving people a new choice at the end of life, water cremation is a gentler, more natural option that uses water instead of flame to return the body to ashes. As with flame cremation, families can opt for a traditional funeral ceremony and will have the ashes to treasure as they wish.

“The Funeral Industry continues to evolve and modernise as people across the world are looking for more choice at the end of life, particularly more environmentally conscious options. Water cremation is the next phase in this evolution and already available to families in the USA.”

Leading on from water cremations, is Sea Burials. Sea burials have existed for centuries, traditional roots leading back to Viking & Egyptian eras, where it was considered a great honour to be buried at sea and returning to nature. Yet, unlike the typical Viking ship being set alight and sent out to sea, modern sea burials are dramatically different.

Around a dozen people every year are buried at sea off the British Isles, according to figures by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). When deciding to have a Sea Burial you must consider that although anyone can be buried at sea, a special license is required to carry out these wishes.

You will require a specialised coffin that must be made from solid softwood and must not contain any plastic, lead, copper or zinc – this is to make sure it biodegrades. It must also have holes drilled throughout and a weight clamped to the bottom to make sure that it sinks quickly.

Additionally, there are only three points in the UK which allow you to be buried at sea. All other location suggestions must be made on the application, you will need to supply exact co-ordinates and evidence to demonstrate that the site is suitable for burials at sea, but this can face rejection if there is a risk due to the tide.

Whatever your wishes when it comes to your funeral it is important that you ensure either your solicitor or a family member or friend knows what you would like to happen once you have passed away.

Your Will is the ideal place to include these wishes or you can prepare a separate letter of instruction with your preferences. You may wish to discuss any more specific arrangements with your local funeral director who can provide you with further information of the options you have available.

We at Oakwood Solicitors work closely with our local funeral directors, ensuring that we are kept updated as the funeral industry becomes more environmentally friendly.

With climate change being a hot topic in recent years, it makes sense that the bereavement industry also needs to consider ways to be more environmentally friendly, such as Green Funerals.

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