Ecological burial: a new way to honour memory
Introduction
Our life choices increasingly reflect our ecological values. Food, transport, consumption: we seek to reduce our carbon footprint. This environmental awareness now extends to our final moments. Ecological burial addresses a legitimate question: how can we honour the memory of a loved one whilst respecting the planet?
Green funerals are not just a passing trend. They represent a profound evolution in our funeral practices, as explained in our article on the evolution of funeral rites. Faced with the environmental impacts of traditional funerals, CO2 emissions, chemicals, non-biodegradable materials, many families are seeking sustainable alternatives.
Cardboard coffins, compostable urns, natural cemeteries, memorial forests: options are multiplying in Switzerland. These sustainable funerals allow us to say goodbye with dignity whilst limiting ecological impact. This guide explores the different possibilities, their advantages and how to organise them in practice.
📌 Summary (TL;DR)
Ecological funerals offer sustainable alternatives to traditional practices: natural burial without chemicals, biodegradable coffins and urns, low-emission cremation, or memorial forests. These options significantly reduce the carbon footprint whilst honouring memory with dignity.
In Switzerland, several funeral homes offer ecological services. The cost remains comparable to traditional funerals, with the advantage of respecting the environmental values of the deceased and their family.
📚 Table of contents
Why choose an ecological burial?
The traditional funeral sector generates considerable environmental impact. A standard cremation emits between 150 and 250 kg of CO₂, equivalent to a 1,000 km car journey. Embalming uses formaldehyde, a carcinogenic product that seeps into the soil.
Traditional coffins contain varnishes, glues and metals that take decades to decompose. In Switzerland, approximately 40,000 deaths occur each year, representing a significant ecological footprint.
Faced with these findings, more and more families are seeking environmentally friendly alternatives. This evolution is part of a broader transformation of funeral rites, where personal values now guide funeral choices.
The different sustainable funeral options
Green funerals now offer several concrete alternatives for environmentally conscious families. Each option presents specific advantages in terms of ecological impact and budget.
From natural burial to biodegradable urns, including innovative methods such as aquamation, the choice is gradually expanding in Switzerland. Some solutions are already accessible, others are emerging gradually.
Here is an overview of the main options available for organising sustainable funerals that respect your environmental convictions.
Green or natural burial
Green burial involves burying the body without chemicals, in a biodegradable coffin, within a preserved natural space. Natural cemeteries or memorial forests replace gravestones with trees or flowering meadows.
In Switzerland, several cemeteries offer spaces dedicated to natural burials, particularly in the cantons of Zurich and Bern. The body decomposes naturally within a few years, enriching the soil without pollution.
This approach appeals through its symbolic dimension: the deceased returns to the earth and participates in the cycle of life. Families appreciate the serenity of these preserved places, far from the mineral atmosphere of traditional cemeteries.
Ecological cremation
Ecological cremation seeks to reduce the carbon footprint of standard cremation. Aquamation (or alkaline hydrolysis) uses water and potash to dissolve the body at low temperature. This method emits 90% less CO₂ than traditional cremation.
Promession, a Swedish technique that freezes the body then transforms it into powder, represents another alternative. These technologies remain little available in Switzerland for the moment, but interest is growing.
To explore the differences between funeral methods in depth, consult our comparison between cremation and burial. Swiss crematoriums are gradually investing in more efficient equipment to reduce emissions.
Biodegradable coffins and urns
Biodegradable coffins come in several natural materials: reinforced cardboard, woven wicker, bamboo, or even mycelium (mushroom). They decompose in 3 to 12 months depending on soil conditions.
Cardboard offers excellent value for money (from 400 CHF) and allows complete personalisation. Wicker brings a warm, artisanal aesthetic. Bamboo coffins combine strength and rapid decomposition.
Compostable urns go even further: some contain tree seeds that germinate thanks to the ashes. Others are designed in rock salt and dissolve in water. These options generally cost between 150 and 500 CHF, less than a traditional metal or marble urn.
Innovative alternatives
Humusation or human composting transforms the body into fertile soil in 3 to 6 months. Legalised in Belgium and certain American states, this practice is not yet authorised in Switzerland.
Tree urns allow a tree to be planted with the deceased's ashes. Memorial coral reefs integrate ashes into structures that promote marine biodiversity.
Diamonds created from ashes represent a sustainable option for those who wish for a tangible keepsake. Expect between 2,000 and 10,000 CHF depending on size. Swiss legislation authorises the keeping of ashes at home, which facilitates these alternatives. Each innovation seeks to reconcile memory and respect for the environment.
Comparison with traditional funerals
Environmental impact: A traditional cremation emits 160 kg of CO₂, compared to 16 kg for aquamation. A solid oak coffin takes 50 years to decompose, compared to 6 months for a cardboard model.
Costs: Ecological funerals can be more economical. A biodegradable coffin costs 400-800 CHF versus 1,500-4,000 CHF for a traditional model. The absence of embalming saves 500-1,200 CHF.
Administrative procedures: Identical in both cases. Burial in a natural cemetery simply requires checking the availability of plots.
Social acceptance: Attitudes are evolving rapidly. In French-speaking Switzerland, 35% of families say they are open to ecological alternatives. Younger generations increasingly favour these options, aligning their environmental values with their funeral choices.
Religious and cultural aspects
Religions are gradually adopting ecological funerals. The Catholic Church authorises biodegradable coffins and even encourages simplicity. Protestants show great openness to these sustainable practices.
Islam naturally favours simple burial without a coffin, in a white shroud, which corresponds to ecological principles. Orthodox Judaism also prefers rapid burial in a simple coffin, often in untreated wood.
To understand the specificities of each tradition, consult our guide to religious funerals. Certain world cultural traditions have always practised natural rituals that inspire contemporary green funerals.
How to organise ecological funerals in Switzerland
Organising sustainable funerals requires careful preparation but remains accessible. The approach is structured around three main axes: choosing the right service providers, selecting environmentally friendly materials, and clearly communicating your wishes.
Contrary to popular belief, ecological funerals do not complicate administrative procedures. They simply require identifying funeral directors who are aware of these issues and asking the right questions.
Here are the concrete steps to implement an ecological burial that respects your environmental convictions.
Choosing an environmentally aware funeral home
Not all funeral homes yet offer ecological options. Ask specific questions: do they have biodegradable coffins? Do they work with natural cemeteries? Do they offer alternatives to embalming?
Look for environmental certifications or concrete commitments to sustainable development. Some providers offset their carbon emissions or use electric vehicles.
Our directory of funeral homes in Switzerland allows you to compare services and contact establishments directly that are committed to an ecological approach. Do not hesitate to request several quotes to compare services and prices.
Selecting the right materials and services
Establish an ecological checklist for each aspect of the funeral. Coffin or urn: favour cardboard, wicker or bamboo. Location: enquire about natural cemeteries or memorial forests in your region.
Flowers: choose local and seasonal varieties, grown without pesticides. Avoid arrangements in synthetic foam. Condolence cards: opt for digital versions rather than paper.
The death notice itself can be ecological. Paper publications cost 800-2,000 CHF and generate waste. A digital notice on Wolky costs 180 CHF, remains accessible 24/7 and can be shared instantly with all your loved ones, anywhere in the world.
Planning and communicating your wishes
Expressing your wishes during your lifetime greatly facilitates the task of loved ones. Write a document detailing your preferences: type of ceremony, desired materials, place of burial or scattering of ashes.
In Switzerland, funeral arrangements can be included in your will or in a separate document kept with your important papers. Inform your loved ones of the location of this document.
Discuss your choices openly with your family. This conversation, although delicate, avoids hesitation and conflict at the time of death. It also allows you to raise awareness among your loved ones about your environmental values and involve them in your approach.
Cost of an ecological burial
Green funerals are often more economical than traditional funerals. A biodegradable coffin costs between 400 and 1,200 CHF, compared to 1,500 to 4,000 CHF for a varnished solid wood model.
The absence of embalming saves 500 to 1,200 CHF. A compostable urn costs 150 to 500 CHF, much less than a marble or bronze urn (800-2,500 CHF).
Ecological cremation (aquamation) currently costs 1,500-2,500 CHF where it is available, a price comparable to traditional cremation. Plots in natural cemeteries vary greatly depending on the municipality: 500 to 3,000 CHF for 20-25 years.
In total, complete ecological funerals cost between 3,000 and 7,000 CHF in Switzerland, compared to 5,000 to 12,000 CHF for traditional funerals. The saving can therefore be significant whilst respecting the environment.
Honouring memory sustainably
Beyond the physical ceremony, perpetuating memory in an ecological way extends the deceased's environmental commitment. Digital memorial pages offer a sustainable alternative to traditional funeral monuments.
On Wolky, the Memories features allow the creation of a permanent digital space where family and friends share photos, anecdotes and messages. Accessible 24/7, this space consumes no physical resources and remains available for future generations.
Memorial tree plantings represent another strong symbolic option. Several organisations offer to plant a tree in the name of the deceased, creating a living legacy that benefits the planet.
Donations to environmental associations in memory of the deceased extend their commitment. Greenpeace, WWF or local nature protection organisations accept commemorative contributions, transforming grief into positive action for the environment.
Ecological funerals offer an environmentally friendly alternative that honours the memory of the deceased whilst preserving the planet for future generations. Whether you opt for natural burial, simple cremation, a biodegradable coffin or innovative alternatives, each choice contributes to reducing the ecological footprint of funerals.
In Switzerland, organising sustainable funerals is perfectly possible thanks to aware funeral homes and increasingly accessible options. The essential thing is to anticipate, communicate your wishes and choose service providers aligned with your environmental values.
If you wish to announce the death of a loved one and share their ecological values with those around you, publish a death notice on Wolky for 180 CHF. You can also consult our funeral homes directory to find an environmentally friendly partner near you.
