Sustainable options for funerals – how to consider the environment even when you’ve departed this earth

At the weekend before last I went along to the Great Big Green Week Festival in Chester to spend time in Grosvenor Park where various groups and organisations had set out stalls explaining what is at risk in our environments and how such risk might be managed or eradicated. 

Among those reaching out to visitors was the Co-op, well known to most of us for its long and particularly northern history - the Co-op's origins trace back to The Rochdale Pioneers.

At the Co-op's information stand I spoke with Samantha Hartland from Co-op Funeralcare. 

"At Co-op Funeralcare we consider the impacts of funeral choices and the impact they have on the environment. We are currently trialling electric hearses down in Bristol and in Scotland and we've recently been running a trial in Crewe. We are trialling options for eco funerals, providing clients with the make-up and provenance of products, such as whether it is Fair Trade, FSC or UK sourced and we are working with crematoria to explore more sustainable options when it comes to cremation. 

"Ecological burials are important too and at the Co-op families can opt for woodland burials and options like wicker coffins. Some people consider a shroud, so there is no coffin at all. New technologies are being developed all of the time, most in the early stages but could become the norm in time as people start to think hard about the most environmentally friendly way of laying a loved one to rest.

"There's been a massive change over the past 10 years since I began working in funerals. Now we do have people asking us about the carbon footprint on our coffins and this sort of awareness is very much on the rise."

Also on the stand was Deborah Zaher, the Co-op Member Pioneer Co-ordinator for Wirral and Chester. The Co-op Member Pioneers bring together Co-op members, colleagues and communities. They can put you in touch with like-minded people, offer practical advice and help. 

Deborah said: "The Co-op has a 10 point climate action plan. Our carrier bags in store have been compostable for a while now; we aim to be net zero by 2040 and that's really important to us. We campaign for climate justice for people everywhere; we are a leader in Fair Trade and we celebrate that every year. Over 2,200 Co-op stores recycle soft plastics, things like carrier bags, bread and crisp packets, which can be placed in the blue bins in the knowledge that they will be recycled and not dumped in landfill. 

"We are all here today to let people know that we're more than just a shop. This is why I work for the Co-op. When we talk about our values, our ethos and vision we really mean it. We have to sell things, but we want to do so in a way that benefits communities."

Are customers responding? 

Rhona Cossy, a Store Manager who works at the Co-op in Bebington, said: "All I can say is, our blue recycling bins for packaging are always full. Every morning ours fills up. It's really surprising - you don't realise how much packaging that might just be thrown away can be recycled. So yes, shoppers are taking time to do their best, and many thanks to them."