grfu:green_funerals

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grfu:green_funerals [2025/12/05 10:14] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1grfu:green_funerals [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Green funerals+This topic is part of [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]]. 
 +====== Green funerals ======
  
  
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-## What are green funerals?+===== What are green funerals? =====
  
 A green funeral offers an alternative to the traditional funeral ceremony and a more holistic and informal way of celebrating a loved one’s death. Green funerals respect the environment by using natural materials and are more cost-effective than a conventional ceremony. The popularity of having a different type of ceremony has increased over the past few years and growing numbers of people are turning away from the black clothing and sombre funeral services that focus on grief, rather than celebrating the life of the deceased. A green funeral offers an alternative to the traditional funeral ceremony and a more holistic and informal way of celebrating a loved one’s death. Green funerals respect the environment by using natural materials and are more cost-effective than a conventional ceremony. The popularity of having a different type of ceremony has increased over the past few years and growing numbers of people are turning away from the black clothing and sombre funeral services that focus on grief, rather than celebrating the life of the deceased.
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-You can choose the ceremony, the music, the readings and the style to suit the deceased, and the natural setting will provide the perfect backdrop.+_You can choose the ceremony, the music, the readings and the style to suit the deceased, and the natural setting will provide the perfect backdrop._
  
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-Coffins can be made of a range of biodegradable materials, including [FSC](https://www.fsc-uk.org/en-uk)\-approved timber, cardboard, strengthened papier maché, or wicker.+_Coffins can be made of a range of biodegradable materials, including [FSC](https://www.fsc-uk.org/en-uk)\-approved timber, cardboard, strengthened papier maché, or wicker._
  
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-Burial avoids the fuel requirements and emissions of cremation.+_Burial avoids the fuel requirements and emissions of cremation._
  
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-Caitlin Doughty explains what's wrong with the conventional funeral industry (plus alternatives) in this TED talk.+_Caitlin Doughty explains what's wrong with the conventional funeral industry (plus alternatives) in this TED talk._
  
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-## What are the benefits of green funerals?+===== What are the benefits of green funerals? =====
  
 The main benefits are environmental and financial, with the freedom to orchestrate a ceremony in any way you choose, whether religious or secular. The main benefits are environmental and financial, with the freedom to orchestrate a ceremony in any way you choose, whether religious or secular.
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-A woodland burial site slowly becomes a beautiful mature woodland.+_A woodland burial site slowly becomes a beautiful mature woodland._
  
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-Some natural burial sites allow flowers, plaques, stones, markers of some kind – others don’t, preferring to maintain a natural woodland.+_Some natural burial sites allow flowers, plaques, stones, markers of some kind – others don’t, preferring to maintain a natural woodland._
  
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-A natural burial site in the US: showing that there is no contradiction between a natural and a religious burial - quite the opposite.+_A natural burial site in the US: showing that there is no contradiction between a natural and a religious burial - quite the opposite._
  
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 The first thing to do is to look at the [Natural Death Centre](http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk/) website, or get a copy of the [Natural Death Handbook or the Dead Good Funerals book](/grfu/green_funerals), which cover any questions you could possibly have about green funerals. Contrary to what you might think, there are few legal requirements when disposing of a body in the UK. You are not required to have a hearse, use undertakers or have a member of the clergy present. The key requirements are that you have a death certificate that has been signed by a doctor and a certificate for burial or cremation from the Registrar of Deaths. Only when you have this certificate will a hospital or mortuary release a body. You can organise a funeral independent of any assistance from a funeral company, but it could be a distressing process and something you will want to have thought about well in advance. You'll need to consider the transportation of the body and who will carry the coffin and perform the service. The first thing to do is to look at the [Natural Death Centre](http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk/) website, or get a copy of the [Natural Death Handbook or the Dead Good Funerals book](/grfu/green_funerals), which cover any questions you could possibly have about green funerals. Contrary to what you might think, there are few legal requirements when disposing of a body in the UK. You are not required to have a hearse, use undertakers or have a member of the clergy present. The key requirements are that you have a death certificate that has been signed by a doctor and a certificate for burial or cremation from the Registrar of Deaths. Only when you have this certificate will a hospital or mortuary release a body. You can organise a funeral independent of any assistance from a funeral company, but it could be a distressing process and something you will want to have thought about well in advance. You'll need to consider the transportation of the body and who will carry the coffin and perform the service.
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-The use of wicker coffins helps sustain a traditional craft industry.+_The use of wicker coffins helps sustain a traditional craft industry._
  
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-Green funerals can be an informal and natural celebration and remembrance of the life of the deceased; here a group of friends carry a wooden coffin to a woodland burial site.+_Green funerals can be an informal and natural celebration and remembrance of the life of the deceased; here a group of friends carry a wooden coffin to a woodland burial site._
  
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 +===== Forum =====
  
-## Further resources+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/wellbeing).
  
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 +- [Association of Green Funeral Directors](https://www.greenfd.org.uk/)
 +- [Woodland Burial Trust](https://woodlandburialtrust.com/)
 +- [Association of Independent Celebrants](https://independentcelebrants.com/)
 +- [Association of Natural Burial Grounds](https://natural-burial-grounds.co.uk/association-of-natural-burial-grounds/)
 +- [Natural Death Centre](http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk/)
 +- [Can you be buried anywhere?](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3630221.stm)
 +- [Dying Matters](https://www.hospiceuk.org/our-campaigns/dying-matters) - raising awareness of dying, death and bereavement
 +- [The Ecologist](https://theecologist.org/2019/jan/14/case-natural-burial) - the case for natural burial
 +- [Good Funeral Awards](https://www.agfdgoodfuneralawards.co.uk/) - non-profit aiming to bring natural funerals into the mainstream
  
-## Specialist(s)+ 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [Tree/woodland management](wodl:woodland_management) 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
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