Green Funerals
The term 'Green Funeral' can mean different things to different people. It can simply be using a coffin sourced from sustainable resources, through to a woodland burial in a shroud. Whatever your requirements, we are able to assist.
The reason behind choosing a 'Green Funeral' will differ from person to person, and that reason may influence the kind of service you want. It may be that you simply like the burial ground, or you may want your remains to have as little impact on the environment as possible.
We offer a range of options to support your commitment to lowering your environmental impact. Our experts can design a sustainable funeral for your loved one and help you with green burials and cremations.
Green Burials
There are currently 3 green burial grounds in the York area:
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A section of Rufforth Cemetery. (Rufforth Cemetery Leaflet)
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A section of Fulford Cemetery. (Fulford Cemetery Leaflet)
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Mowthorpe Garden of Rest. (Mowthorpe Leaflet)
While all the above permit the planting of shrubs, Rufforth and Mowthorpe permit the planting of native trees, and Mowthorpe also permits some memorials to be erected.
Slightly further afield are:
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Lawnswood Cemetery, Leeds.
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Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate (Residents of Harrogate Borough Council Only).
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Driffield Cemetery. (Driffield Cemetery Leaflet)
If you are simply looking to lower the carbon footprint of a cremation, all of our regularly used coffins are sourced from sustainable resources, or you can choose a more environmentally friendly coffin, please see our coffins page for more information.
Alternatively, if you are looking for a burial, we have a range of environmentally friendly coffins available that meet the requirements for green burial grounds. You may choose to go further and not use a coffin at all, instead opting for a shroud. Whatever your requirements or reasons, we will have options available.
Embalming is generally discouraged for a green burial due to the chemicals involved.
Green Transport
While we are not yet able to offer an 'eco-hearse' as part of our fleet, it is possible to hire one, it is something we are looking into for the future.
All our traditional funeral vehicles and hearsettes have stop-start technology to reduce their emissions.
We also offset our emissions using Eco-point, meaning that new woodland is planted to counter the mileage we travel.
The new woodlands are quality assured by the UK government’s Woodland Carbon Code. The Woodland Carbon Code certifies projects to ISO standards, and the certification and planting status of each woodland is publicly verifiable via the Markit Environmental Registry.
