Funeral services and sustainability: are they compatible?

We strive to protect our planet: we sort our waste, choose low-emission cars, change our purchasing habits, and reduce plastic consumption — but what about funeral services? Can they be sustainable? Almost every aspect of human life has an impact on the environment. Death is no exception. The arrangements and customs surrounding death and burial have developed over many centuries. Religious funeral symbols — crosses, headstones, coffins — have become so common that we can hardly imagine a funeral without them. All of these elements, along with social changes and population growth, have contributed to burial practices becoming harmful to the environment. This impact will only increase, as more people die worldwide and less land remains for cemeteries. It has been calculated that by 2040, around 80 million people will need to be buried worldwide, and by 2060 this number will rise to 102 million. This is becoming a serious challenge because the resources used for burial are limited. “Vilniaus laidojimo namai” explore more sustainable alternatives for funerals.

Cremation or Traditional Burial: Which Is More Sustainable?

More and more people are talking about the need for burial practices to have as little environmental impact as possible. Cemeteries and poorly equipped crematoria can become sources of pollution, releasing greenhouse gases and heavy-metal deposits. “Vilniaus laidojimo namai” also care about our planet and offer a range of funeral services — not only traditional burial, but also cremation, carried out only in reliable crematoria.

There is ongoing debate about which method is more sustainable: traditional burial or cremation. Research has shown that neither option is fully sustainable and both cause environmental harm in different ways. However, long-term impact studies indicate that cremation is about 10% more sustainable than traditional burial. Grave maintenance — watering, mowing, and the use of herbicides — harms the environment. Another significant issue is embalming fluid: the chemicals it contains can seep into the ground and soil, which means they may also reach our drinking water. For this reason, more sustainable alternatives to embalming are continually being sought. “Green embalming” using essential oils has been proposed, although its effectiveness has not been fully studied.

On the other hand, cremation releases harmful substances such as mercury and carbon dioxide. However, technological innovations — for example, mercury filtration systems — help the cremation industry reduce emissions and make cremation more sustainable. When comparing traditional burial with cremation, it is also important to remember that traditional coffins are not eco-friendly either. It is estimated that producing coffins each year requires around 1.6 million hectares of forest, and their manufacturing consumes significant resources. That is why “Vilniaus laidojimo namai” also offer eco-friendly cardboard coffins for cremation. The varnish used in coffin production may contain toxic chemicals that can be released into the environment during cremation. For environmental reasons, coffin rental is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, especially in the United States — and we also offer coffin rental in our funeral homes. This expands funeral service options and allows people not only to save money, but also to conserve wood: the body is displayed in a standard coffin, while cremation is carried out in an eco-friendly one.

How Can Funerals Be Made More Sustainable?

Sustainability essentially means reducing environmental impact. Many countries strive to preserve resources so that future generations can continue to benefit from the Earth’s wealth. This applies to many areas of life, including burial. Due to cultural and religious customs and beliefs, traditional burial remains popular, but interest is gradually growing in alternatives that can be cheaper, have a smaller environmental footprint, and even align with traditional values and social norms.

There are many ways to make funerals more sustainable. Coffins can be simpler, and you can choose a sustainable coffin without metal handles or extra fittings. Clothing for the deceased can be made from biodegradable materials such as cotton or wool. Ideally, it would be the deceased’s own clothing — meaningful and dear to them. This is another way to give a funeral deeper significance while also being more sustainable. We should also remember that funeral clothing is often made of polyester, which is not biodegradable.

Sustainability can also be applied to flowers. Choose only the flowers that are especially meaningful and remind you of your loved one. Try to use locally grown flowers. Avoid plastic and other non-degradable materials for wrapping and arranging flowers, and отказаться from complex bouquet structures. It is also becoming more common to donate money instead of bringing traditional flowers, for example to charitable organizations.

“Green Burial” — A Growing Burial Practice

New burial alternatives are continually being sought around the world. Well-maintained cemeteries can be turned into green spaces that contribute to air purification. Such places can be peaceful areas for reflection and spending time in nature. Gradually, cemeteries worldwide are becoming multifunctional spaces — places for recreation where people can walk or cycle. They may include sculpture parks and cafés. Burial sites can be designed to be visually unobtrusive (for example, small memorial plaques in the grass instead of large headstones).

You can also choose a biodegradable urn. Urns can be used to plant a tree — a way to honor your loved one’s memory while caring for the earth.

Of course, cultural and religious beliefs shaped over centuries will continue to influence traditional burial practices. However, social responsibility and the desire to preserve our planet for future generations will drive certain changes. It may be possible to find solutions that do not conflict with religious beliefs, help protect nature, and become accessible to more people.