Can I have an Eco-Friendly Funeral?

As more people seek ways to reduce their environmental footprint, sustainability in funerals is becoming an important topic. At Tom Owen and Son, we are committed to offering eco-friendly options, but navigating this path isn’t always straightforward. There can be a lot of misleading information and ‘green washing’, with some choices not as sustainable as they appear. 

In this blog, we’ll explore the real challenges of having a true green funeral, look at practical steps you can take and how we’re making a difference, so you can make an informed choice when planning a funeral.

Is a truly green funeral possible?

Some funeral products are marketed as eco-friendly but independent research is limited, particularly on the environmental impact of coffins. Most studies have been funded by coffin manufacturers, making it difficult to get an unbiased view. In 2013, we donated towards a crowdfunded independent research project into sustainability of coffins in burial and cremation. The full report was published by Planet Mark and is available to read here 

How we’re making funerals more sustainable

While a completely ‘zero-carbon’ funeral may not yet be possible, here’s what we’ve been doing to make a meaningful difference:

• Choosing sustainable coffins

The type of coffin you choose significantly impacts the environmental footprint of a funeral. We work with coffin providers that don’t use unnecessary packaging in delivery. Some of the options we offer include the Loop Living Cocoon™ – a revolutionary coffin made from mycelium which can biodegrade within 45 days and enrich the soil, willow and bamboo coffins which are natural, fast-growing, biodegradable and made within the UK and finally, cardboard coffins which offer a simple and low impact choice for both burial and cremation. You can see more about the coffin options here.

• No routine embalming

Many funeral homes routinely embalm as part of their process but embalming uses toxic chemicals that can disturb the eco system within a burial. We don’t routinely embalm unless it’s truly necessary. You can read more about embalming here. 

• Using renewable energy and recycling

We are actively working to reduce our carbon footprint and have recently installed solar panels at our funeral home. This means much of our energy comes from a renewable source helping to cut down on emissions. We also recycle as much as possible to avoid sending to landfill. 

• Funeral transport and stationery

Even small changes can make a difference. We print our service booklets using recycled paper and encourage only printing enough for one between two. We will look at lower emission transport options once our vehicles are due to be replaced but in the meantime we ensure care sharing for funeral bearers.

• Sustainable floral tributes

You can opt for locally grown, seasonal flowers. Many florists now offer fully biodegradable funeral tributes, opting not to use floral foam or you can create a tribute made of vegetables! You can read more about floral tributes here. 

How you can plan a greener funeral

If sustainability is important to you, here are some practical steps you can take when planning a funeral:

• Opt for a biodegradable coffin;
• Say no to embalming or hygienic treatments are they are sometimes referred to;
• Choose a natural burial ground such as The Eternal Forest, Boduan (link here); or you can read our previous blog about the burial ground and how beautiful it is.
• Limit vehicle use where possible;
• Use eco-friendly flowers;
• Consider asking for memorial donations instead of flowers to support local charities. 

A greener goodbye is possible

While funeral traditions are deeply personal, small changes can make a big impact on our planet. At Tom Owen and Son, we’re committed to helping families make informed choices while offering genuine, sustainable options.