Greener Funerals and a Happier Environment

The UK formaldehyde industry has gone very quiet in the last few months since it became known, that there was, no interest and no funds to file for the PT22 November 2008 Biocides deadline.

The funeral industry is hoping that Dodge will stop wasting time and make known its plan of action, so it can get on with trialling embalming alternatives. With only six months to go this will be a tough task.

Although it is sad when an industry needs help and its biggest supplier is found wanting, it may yet prove a blessing in disguise for the developing green funeral industry. For so long the more environmentally concerned amongst us have asked for an alternative to formaldehyde, stones and heavy wooden coffins. These alternatives have now come to the fore, with eco coffins, woodland burials and green embalming products.

Any industry needs to be aware of consumer trends and this is becoming apparent in the funeral industry, as the rise of alternative products has caught it a little unawares. Although with consumer recognition for green funerals running at three in four, nobody can see how they missed it!

So what should you do if you want to turn statistics into reality?

Our answer is prepare, plan and research, there is nothing about death that is scary, sad yes! scary no.

The three areas you should be aware of are coffins, cleanliness and afterlife:

For coffins, we think the best is Ecopod. 100% recyclable! resembles a seed and is quite stylish we may add.

For cleanliness, we recommend Aardbalm, a non-toxic alternative to formaldehyde. Aardbalm keeps the body preserved for a short period of time, allowing for little or no reliance on refrigeration. After all why stop embalmers doing their job then destroy the planet with CO2.

For burials, try to visit several locations and imagine you or your family members visiting. Trees, a view and a memorial wall seem a better thing for the future than tomb stones and metal fences.

The funeral industry in Europe will change dramatically and forever on the 1st of November 2008. For the funeral industry preparations are underway to adjust to this change, however the consumer, the bereaved and their families should also help in identifying what they can do for their family and for the environment.

Contact Information

James Guernsey

Advisor

CMR Risks

Contact via E-mail