When most people think about their environmental footprint, they picture driving electric cars, recycling more, or becoming a vegetarian – not what happens after they die.
But funerals have a surprisingly large environmental impact – with traditional practices such as embalming, hardwood coffins, and cremation consuming finite resources and emitting greenhouse gases.
Death may be unavoidable, but the way we approach it is changing. As more people reflect on the legacy they leave behind, eco-friendly funerals are offering a way to align final goodbyes with the values people lived by.
Other countries have seen new innovations to funeral practises such as tree pod burials and water cremations, which may eventually become available in the island – but what sustainable options do we have currently in Jersey?
Maillards funeral director Julian De La Cour explained that a “green funeral” can mean using natural materials, avoiding chemicals, or choosing burial sites that work with nature.
One of the biggest changes comes down to coffins; instead of varnished hardwoods or metal fittings, greener options use materials designed to break down naturally.
Mr De La Cour explained that Maillards uses Forest Stewardship Council certified wood, ensuring it is sourced from responsibly managed forests where trees are harvested as a sustainable crop.
He added that willow and linen coffins are also available, and cardboard can be used for burials but not cremation.
Burials can also take place without a coffin, using a simple natural fibre shroud instead, in some cases by special arrangement, using a simple natural fibre shroud.
Where someone is laid to rest also matters. Meadow burials at St Clement’s Church, focuses on conservation, natural beauty, and minimal environmental impact, keeping things wild and undisturbed.
Mr De La Cour said the area is “looked after beautifully” and is “very gentle”, adding that it is as close as Jersey gets to woodland burials – where bodies are buried closer to the surface to allow nutrients to absorb into the soil.
Ashes can also be buried in these spaces, using biodegradable containers that leave no lasting trace.
Instead of grave markers, a small plaque may be installed discreetly on a gatepost, giving families a general indication of where their loved one rests, but not marking the individual spot.
Cremation, now a common choice for many families, comes with its own environmental questions – with traditional gas cremations producing significant carbon emissions due to high temperatures.
Newer electric cremators have been shown to dramatically reduce emissions – but there are no formal plans to upgrade to this technology in Jersey.
“Cremation is definitely the way people are going,” said Mr De La Cour, who said it accounted for “in excess of 70%” of the funerals handled by Maillards Funeral Directors.
Eco-friendly funerals also aim to limit what goes into the ground. Embalming fluids can introduce toxins into soil over time, so greener alternatives focus on minimal intervention.
Funerals can be a large expense for families, and environmental considerations often intersect with affordability.
Mr De La Cour explained that “direct cremations”, where no service is held in order to keep costs down, are “becoming more popular”.
He explained: “We collect the deceased from wherever they might have passed away, we bring them into our care, we put them in a coffin, and then we arrange a time at the crematorium.
“A few days later, we’ll get the ashes back and we can give them to the family. That’s probably the cheapest form of funeral, so we can offer that if necessary.”
Many families later choose to hold a separate gathering.
During the pandemic, small graveside services became common, and some families preferred them.
“The few families I did this for actually said it was lovely and very personal,” added Mr De La Cour.
We do encourage people to talk about it, because, unfortunately, it’s one of the things that is going to happen
Julian De La Cour, Maillards funeral director
But despite growing awareness, local demand for eco-friendly funerals remains modest.
“People are asking more – not a huge amount because I think this is still relatively new,” said Mr De La Cour.
“We’re trying to accommodate the best we can. It will go forward, and as more people are getting into it, more people will start requesting it.
“The boundaries of what we can offer will have to move with that, but we can only go so far.”
One simple step families can take now is planning ahead. Pre-arranging funeral wishes, referred to as “lasting wishes” at Maillards, can spare loved ones having to make difficult decisions later on.
“I know it sounds a bit morbid, but actually it’s not,” said Mr De La Cour.
“It’s a wonderful thing to do because then you can go to a family and say: ‘Look, don’t worry, mum or dad had all their wishes here, we know exactly what they want. All we need you to do is sign a bit of paperwork.’ And the relief shows on their faces.
“So we do encourage people to talk about it, because, unfortunately, it’s one of the things that is going to happen.”