50% of cremations now use eco-friendly coffins, and biodegradable urns account for 30%

Barcelona, October 28, 2011

The use of eco-friendly coffins for cremations and biodegradable urns that allow ashes to be buried without harming the environment is growing in the province of Barcelona. On one hand, 50% of cremations are now done using "sustainable" coffins, which are free from varnishes, hinges, metal parts, glass, plastics, or synthetic fabrics. On the other hand, the use of biodegradable urns for burying ashes in cemeteries, in controlled environments, currently stands at 30%. These figures come from Serveis Funeraris Integrals (SFI), a leading Catalan company in the management of funeral services and cemeteries in the province of Barcelona.

Although most people still opt for traditional burial in niches, graves, or mausoleums, cremation continues to rise in Catalonia, especially in urban centers and areas close to major cities. The Catalan capital leads in this option with 43% (a 4.4% increase from 2010), while the province of Barcelona is at 36% (a 4.3% increase), and Catalonia as a whole is at 32% (a 4.6% increase).

The rise in cremation has led to the development of new alternatives for the controlled burial of ashes, such as columbaria, scattering gardens, and even wooded areas within cemeteries. An example is Roques Blanques in Papiol (Baix Llobregat), a public cemetery managed by SFI and located in the Collserola Natural Park. It was a pioneer in starting the Bosc de la Calma in 2007 and later the Arbres Familiars, two initiatives that allow the burial of biodegradable urns alongside native trees. In just four years, over 700 trees have been planted, demonstrating the positive reception of this idea. "It’s a way to return to the earth and have a space surrounded by nature where one can remember the loved one," says Joan Ventura, Director of Cemeteries at Serveis Funeraris Integrals.

Roques Blanques' commitment to nature has made it the first cemetery in Spain and the third in Europe to achieve EMAS registration, a very strict environmental certification. "Roques Blanques is now a reference cemetery both architecturally and environmentally due to its characteristics, as it was designed from the beginning as a park, fully integrated into the terrain's topography," explains Ventura.

New Funeral Trends

Beyond cemeteries, 21st-century funeral services are becoming more personalized, adapting to new societal realities and demands. For example, ashes can now be used to create a diamond in memory of the deceased. "We also offer secular sculptures for coffins as an alternative to traditional crosses, such as botanical elements or musical instruments, which many families prefer because they relate to the deceased's tastes," says Josep Ventura, Director of Funeral Services at SFI. He acknowledges that "currently, between 5% and 10% of ceremonies are secular," with the remaining 90% being religious, mostly Catholic, though Muslims, Jews, Evangelicals, Baha’is, and Buddhists now represent 2%.

Funeral services are also opening up to society to help "normalize" the taboo of death through the use of new technologies, which allow users to access online services such as virtual obituaries or flower ordering (through websites like www.serveisfunerarisintegrals.com). SFI has also launched a pioneering 2.0 project: the Tanatopèdia (www.tanatopedia.org), the world's first online collaborative encyclopedia dedicated to sharing aspects related to the funeral sector, absence, and mourning, which was launched a year ago and has just introduced its profile on the social network Twitter (@tanatopedia).

In the realm of emotional management, SFI collaborates on educational and training projects aimed at children, adolescents, and adults to address loss and mourning from school, family, and even professional environments. In this regard, through the "Art and Absence" program by the AVES Association, tools and resources are provided to help recognize and express feelings related to the life cycle.