What does an eco-funeral look like?

The word gets banded about quite a bit but have you ever thought what it actually means to have a green funeral?

An eco funeral (also called a green funeral or natural burial) is a type of funeral designed to have minimal environmental impact. It focuses on sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional burial or cremation practices.

Key Features of an Eco Funeral:

 Biodegradable Materials

• The body is buried in a biodegradable coffin, shroud, or urn — often made from materials like wicker, bamboo, cardboard, or untreated wood.

• No synthetic linings, metals, or chemical finishes are used.

No Embalming Chemicals

• The body is not embalmed with formaldehyde or other toxic preservatives, which can leach into the soil and groundwater.

• Natural preservation methods (like refrigeration or dry ice) are used instead.

Natural Burial Sites

• The burial takes place in a natural burial ground, woodland cemetery, or designated section of a cemetery with minimal landscaping.

• Headstones are often replaced with natural markers like rocks, plants, or GPS coordinates.

Alternative to Cremation

• Cremation is less eco-friendly than many assume — it uses fossil fuels and emits greenhouse gases.

• However, some opt for water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis), which is considered a more eco-friendly alternative (however this option is not yet available in the UK)

Sustainable Memorial Practices

• Memorials may involve planting a tree, creating a habitat for wildlife, or supporting conservation efforts.

• Memorial services often reflect ecological values — like using local, seasonal flowers or digital programs instead of printed ones.

Why Choose an Eco Funeral?

• Environmental Concern: Reduces pollution, resource use, and ecological disruption.

• Simplicity: Often less expensive and more personal.

• Spiritual or Ethical Beliefs: Aligns with values of returning to the earth naturally.

• Flexibility: An eco funeral often allows more flexibility in terms of both time, creativity and money. They can be a lot cheaper than traditional options.

  Not sure where to start planning for an eco-funeral for yourself or a loved one? Well I can help…

  📩 Get in touch for a free 20-minute chat about planning your or a loved one’s eco-funeral. If your query is time sensitive please text/WhatsApp me on: +44 7811 699 335

Celebrant Mounira: Kent funeral celebrant crafting modern, personalised, inclusive and creative eco-funeral ceremonies that honour and connect.

Styles and creative ideas to get the juices flowing for your unique wedding ceremony

Planning a wedding can be daunting, and overwhelming at times. Sometimes it is hard to know where to start. Here are a few ceremony examples to give you a starting point and get the creative juices flowing…

• An intimate Italian, romantic, nostalgic, modern ceremony oozing with style, poetry and passion in the gardens of an old private manor house

• A traditional-style wedding ceremony with some faith-based readings in the couple’s private home/garden or luxury Airbnb

• Simple, paired-back, zen-like, relaxed ceremony in a luxurious private dining room, with a nod to Japanese culture and rituals within the ceremony

• Get ‘hitched with the hound’ - involve your lovely dog in your wedding ceremony as a ring bearer, to accompany you down the aisle etc.

• Kiss-Me-Quick, retro, kitsch, colourful UK seaside ceremony with lots of laughs held at a hotel function room with a lovely sea view

• A tropical barefoot micro-destination beach wedding ceremony in Australia (on a private beach) with an informal feel and lots of family involvement in the form of adapted culturally symbolic rituals blending the cultures/heritage of the couple (Moroccan and Indigenous Australian)

• A pagan-type elopement ceremony with a handfasting ritual in a wooded area near the beach on the wonderful Hawaiian-like island of Madeira in Europe for a couple who love surfing

• A stately home ceremony at a licenced venue with a registrar present to complete the legal elements alongside Celebrant Mounira who will conduct all other bespoke elements of the ceremony, such as vows, ring exchange etc. and any other symbolic rituals requested

• A gaming wedding, at a gaming convention

• An elopement wedding ceremony on a boat in the middle of the deep blue sea…

There really is no limit to what you can create for your wedding ceremony, and I can help you create it...