As our world becomes increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of our choices, funerals are no exception. Traditional burial practices often rely on materials and processes that can leave a heavy environmental footprint. However, eco-friendly alternatives, such as those offered at GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks, are transforming how we honour our loved ones while protecting the planet for future generations. At the forefront of this movement is the innovative Loop Living Cocoon™, a groundbreaking eco-coffin that exemplifies the future of sustainable burials.
The Growing Importance of Green Burials
Eco-friendly burials are designed to minimise the environmental impact of traditional funeral practices. By prioritising biodegradable materials, reducing emissions, and avoiding harmful chemicals, green burials offer a more harmonious way of returning to the earth. GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks have embraced this philosophy by providing tranquil woodland and parkland where families can say goodbye in a way that honours both their loved ones and the natural world.
Key elements of eco-friendly burials include:
- Biodegradable Coffins and Shrouds: Options like Loop Living Cocoon™, cardboard and willow are better for the environment
- Eco Grave Markers: Choosing a Living Memorial Tree or a wooden plaque instead of a headstone
- Avoiding Embalming: Skipping the use of formaldehyde and other chemicals protects surrounding soil and water
GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks are uniquely designed to support these principles, offering not only a serene resting place but also a commitment to environmental stewardship.
Introducing the Loop Living Cocoon™
The Loop Living Cocoon™ represents a revolutionary step in green funerals. Made from mycelium – the underground root network of mushrooms – and upcycled hemp fibres, this eco-coffin is 100% natural and fully biodegradable. Remarkably, it biodegrades within just 45 days, enriching the soil and increasing biodiversity. And a tree was not cut down to create this type of coffin.
Why Mycelium? Mycelium is nature’s ultimate recycler. It transforms organic matter into nutrients, shares resources with the forest floor, and enhances soil quality. By utilising mycelium, the Loop Living Cocoon™ not only minimises environmental harm but actively contributes to a healthier planet.
Features of the Loop Living Cocoon™
- Quick Growth: Developed in just seven days
- Biodegradable: Breaks down naturally, leaving no trace and enriching the soil
- Sustainable Materials: Free from paint, glue, varnish, or screws
- Customisable Interiors: Choose from natural linings like moss, hemp, wool, or bio-cotton
- Versatility: Suitable for traditional burials, natural burials, and cremations
Its hydrophobic properties make it suitable for all weather conditions, and it can be stored indefinitely when kept in a dry, ventilated space.
Redefining Legacies
Choosing the Loop Living Cocoon™ is more than an eco-friendly decision; it’s a statement about the legacy you wish to leave. By choosing a coffin that enriches the soil and promotes biodiversity, you create a living memorial that continues to give back to the earth. This aligns perfectly with GreenAcres’ mission to sustain and enhance our natural landscapes for generations to come.
Loop will have a distribution centre in the UK, meaning UK Funeral Directors will be able to purchase the Loop Living Cocoon™ on request.
A greener future
At GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks, we believe that everyone should have the information and options to make meaningful and environmentally conscious funeral choices. As we move toward achieving net-zero emissions across our business, innovations like the Loop Living Cocoon™ play a vital role in shaping the future of funerals.
Loop Biotech have also created an urn called Loop EarthRise™, just like the coffin – this feeds the earth and improves biodiversity, meaning that your loved one’s ashes can be a source for nature to flourish within the woodland, meadow, orchard, garden or lawn area of any GreenAcres Living Memorial Park. The Loop EarthRise™ urns are available to purchase directly from GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks.
If you’re planning for yourself or a loved one, consider the environmental impact of each decision. From biodegradable coffins to woodland and wildflower meadow burials, every choice can make a difference. Together, we can honour our loved ones while preserving the beauty of our planet.
To learn more about our eco-friendly burial options visit GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks. To find out more on Loop Biotech and the Loop Living Cocoon™ and Loop EarthRise™, visit Loop Living Cocoon™ – World’s first living coffin. Let’s create a legacy that honours life and nurtures the earth.
Funerals are deeply personal, emotional ceremonies to honour the life and memory of a loved one. As part of these ceremonies, flowers have traditionally been used to express love, respect, and sympathy. However, in recent years, concerns about the environmental impact of traditional funeral flower arrangements have emerged. Many of these designs, though beautiful, are unsustainable, often constructed with single-use plastic elements such as floral foam, ribbons made from synthetic materials and plastic tape which can contribute to plastic pollution and landfill waste.
In response to these concerns, a growing number of eco-conscious florists are offering sustainable alternatives to traditional funeral flowers. These eco-friendly flower arrangements not only minimise environmental impact but also reflect the beauty and purity of nature, which can add an extra layer of meaning to the tribute for those seeking a more natural ceremony for their loved ones.
Sophie Newman Floristry
Why Choose Eco-Friendly Funeral Flowers?
It’s estimated that over 14,670 cubic meters of floral foam and single-use plastic are sent to UK landfills every year from crematoriums alone – that’s the equivalent of six Olympic-sized swimming pools! This statistic highlights the staggering waste generated by traditional funeral practices. Many florists still use floral foam – a type of plastic that crumbles over time and releases harmful microplastics into the environment. Funeral flower arrangements created with these materials not only contribute to landfill waste but also have the potential to leach harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater.
Plastic floral foam has been the mainstay of funeral floristry since it was invented in the 1950s. It sits at the heart of most of the letters, shapes and 3D tributes which you may see travelling by in hearses, massed in the viewing areas of crematoriums, or laid on graves in all parts of the UK.
Given what we now know about the negative impact of plastic on the environment, many families are opting for sustainable alternatives. Eco-friendly funeral flowers are made without floral foam or plastic materials and use seasonal, locally sourced flowers to reduce the carbon footprint. Instead of plastic supports, florists may use biodegradable materials like moss or bamboo to structure the arrangements.
Sustainable Funeral Flower Alternatives
There are several ways to create meaningful and sustainable funeral flower arrangements that honour the memory of a loved one while protecting the environment:
- Hand-Tied Sheaves
A hand-tied sheaf is a popular eco-friendly alternative to traditional casket sprays. These arrangements consist of a flat-backed bouquet with open-cut stems tied together with natural fibres, such as cotton or jute. The absence of floral foam or plastic means the entire arrangement can be buried with the casket or returned to nature without leaving any waste behind. When created with local, seasonal flowers, the carbon footprint is significantly reduced.
Helen Sheard Floral Designs - Foam-Free Wreaths
Wreaths are a common choice for funerals, but traditional wreaths are often made with floral foam rings or polystyrene bases. Eco-friendly alternatives involve creating wreaths with natural plant materials, like willow or grapevine, to form the structure. These wreaths are fully biodegradable and can be left at the burial site without concern for lingering pollution.
Helen Sheard Floral Designs - Compostable Casket Tributes
For those looking for a more elaborate arrangement to sit atop a casket, many florists now offer fully compostable designs. These tributes use natural materials, such as moss instead of floral foam to support the flowers. In some cases, florists will create reusable bases made from plant fibres or mineral-based supports that can be reclaimed after the ceremony. This eliminates waste and ensures that no harmful materials are buried with the casket.
Woodchurch Cottage Flowers - Seasonal and Local Blooms
Another way to reduce the environmental impact of funeral flowers is to choose blooms that are in season and grown locally. Imported flowers require more resources for transportation and often come with a larger carbon footprint due to the energy needed for refrigeration and transit. By selecting flowers that are in season and locally sourced, you not only support local growers but also reduce the overall environmental impact.
Woodchurch Cottage Flowers - Plastic-Free Packaging and Bouquets
If family and friends are bringing flowers to the service, they can be encouraged to avoid bouquets wrapped in plastic or tied with plastic ribbons. Instead, guests can opt for flowers wrapped in biodegradable paper or natural fabrics. Alternatively, they can contribute to a memorial charity in lieu of flowers, further reducing waste while supporting a meaningful cause.
The Shropshire Flower Company
How to Find Eco-Friendly Florists
In the UK, Farewell Flowers is a directory that helps families find local florists who specialise in creating plastic-free and environmentally conscious funeral flower arrangements. These florists are committed to focusing on sustainable materials and creating unique, meaningful arrangements that reflect the personality and interests of the person being remembered.
Choosing a Green Burial Site
For those organising a green funeral or burial, it’s important to check with the site about any rules they may have regarding flower displays. Some green burial sites have strict guidelines to ensure that only native plants are left on the land and that no plastic or non-biodegradable materials are used. Florists who specialise in eco-friendly funeral flowers are typically well-versed in these regulations and can create designs that adhere to the site’s guidelines.
Additionally, you can consider a Living Memorial, Living Memorials are increasingly popular for those seeking an eco-friendly way to honour loved ones.
These memorials offer a lasting tribute that grow and flourish, symbolising their life, legacy and lasting imprint on the natural world. One of the many options we have in our GreenAcres Parks is a Living Memorial Tree. Whether used for burials, a final resting place for ashes, or a special dedication; a Living Memorial Tree offers a sustainable alternative to traditional memorials, aligning personal remembrance with ecological responsibility.
By planting a Living Memorial Tree, you create a personal and lasting space for reflection while contributing positively to the environment. These trees provide habitat for wildlife, enhance air quality, contribute positively to the ecosystem and help sequester carbon.
See more on eco-burials here
Final Thoughts
Eco-friendly funeral flowers offer a way to honour loved ones in a meaningful, thoughtful manner while protecting the environment. Whether you choose hand-tied sheaves, compostable casket tributes, or wreaths made from natural materials, these arrangements ensure that your final farewell doesn’t come at the cost of our planet’s health. By working with sustainable florists and considering green alternatives, we can all play a part in reducing waste and preserving the beauty of nature, even in our moments of deepest grief.
If you’re planning a funeral and would like to make eco-conscious decisions, Farewell Flowers Directory is a wonderful resource to find UK florists dedicated to providing plastic-free and sustainable options. Let’s make the final tribute to our loved ones as gentle on the Earth as their memory is on our hearts.
Whatever your wishes we are here to work with you and your Funeral Director to give you a personalised service and the support you need. Get in touch with us to find out more.