68
The ICCM Journal | Autumn 2021 | V89 No. 3
considering the environmental impact natural burial and green funeral choices have on people and the planet. We recently came across a post that got people talking about death. Someone mentioned it would be better if everyone had a cremation with ashes scattered at sea. This would then save space on the land. Understandably this raised quite a few opinions and debates. This included conversations about what was best for the environment. There were discussions about the materials we should use for coffins. There was mention of scattering ashes and natural burial. Others shared their wishes and why this would or would not be something they would want.
In 2020 we were honoured to receive a green apple award for our environmental practices and sustainable development. We also understand these practices need to move with the times and there is always room for improvement. The mycelium coffin that was recently used in Norway has shown a new concept we may be able to offer in the future. We know there is sometimes a concern being eco-friendly means no longer being traditional. There is no reason we can't approach traditional funeral practices in an environmentally friendly way.
Something we discovered was there isn’t always a clear understanding of the environmental impact. It was clear some were not aware land can have other uses, especially with natural burial. Those scattering ashes had not always been advised about the negative impact this can have on fragile ecosystems. In fact, it brought to mind these few words we once heard. “It seems such a Eco friendly coffin shame when people use real wood coffins, I want a cheap chipboard coffin. It's only going to be burnt anyway”.
The past year has brought a better understanding of how we need to live sustainably. It has allowed us to revisit topics like eco-friendly coffins, cut flowers and ashes scattering. What we found is it’s only when you delve deeper into these practices that you see there is so much more we could be doing. We thought it might be helpful to share some of our environmentally friendly practices. After all, it's only through sharing our ideas that we grow and learn.
What they may not have realised was by using a natural wood coffin we release fewer toxins and chemicals. This applies to both cremation and burial. It's a much better choice for our planet than chipboard reducing air and ground pollution. Using natural materials can also help save on fossil fuels because they burn faster. While the wood itself may have been reclaimed or sustainably sourced. It makes you wonder if we would have had a very different response, had they been aware of this. The simple way of thinking about this is to put back into nature what you take out of it. Using natural materials and sustainable practices can have a significant impact. If we all took a green approach to the materials we use in cremation and burial we would see a positive change. As they say, 'little by little a little becomes a lot'. The comments highlighted the need to educate people about the environmental impact. They also highlighted that people want to know this information. As a natural burial provider, we are always on the lookout for more sustainable, eco-friendly practices. We want to make sure that we are providing the best we can for the people who use us and for the planet. We are also aware funeral practices are changing and people's needs are evolving. This is why we have recently gained permission to include pets’ ashes in our natural burial grounds.
We have 10 natural burial grounds across the UK. Every natural burial ground is unique, but they follow the same ethos. Behind each one is someone who is passionate about offering natural, meaningful funerals. Our natural burial grounds work with our beautiful countryside and native habitats. This allows our wonderful wildlife to thrive and remain in their native homes. We do not have memorial woodlands or remembrance gardens. This is because we want everything to remain as natural as possible. A natural burial to us means working with what nature has given us. We still offer memorials but these are in a memorial shelter or frame. They are not placed on graves because it's important to us that we managed our burial grounds sustainably. This means we can use sustainable practices like grazing. They can be mowed for hay and can support local farming. Another benefit is that we can approach mowing and grazing more gently. This allows wildflowers to flourish and benefits the Memorial Frame native flora and fauna. It also benefits those who visit because walking through a wildflower meadow can be very therapeutic. Our natural burial grounds have allowed us to restore and conserve native habitats. This includes the orchard at Bath,
