Customizable eco-friendly caskets and ‘green’ mausoleums buried in nature: new sustainable alternatives from Àltima
Barcelona, October 29, 2019.- In an effort to offer increasingly sustainable and personalized services, Àltima has designed two unique proposals in our country. On one hand, eco-friendly wooden caskets that allow for a large image to be printed on the lid using non-contaminating ink, and on the other, Forest Mausoleums—innovative burials buried in nature at Roques Blanques Cemetery (El Papiol, Barcelona), fully integrated with the surrounding vegetation.
The company, specialized in managing funeral services, funeral homes, crematories, and cemeteries, has been committed for years to environmentally respectful solutions across the various centers it serves. According to Josep Ventura, General Director of Funeral Services at Àltima, "Our philosophy is to offer funeral services tailored to individuals that are also as sustainable as possible. Over ten years ago, we began with alternatives like the Forest of Calm, moved on to acquiring our first electric vehicles, and now offer customizable eco-friendly caskets and today’s green mausoleums. Not only that, but for the past three years, we have been measuring our carbon footprint with the goal of continual improvement."
The images on the new "eco" caskets can be either religious or secular, such as Saint George, the Mediterranean Sea, Tibidabo, a vineyard landscape, or an angel. This initiative is already in place at the Ronda de Dalt Funeral Home in Barcelona and is expected to be distributed to other centers in the group in the coming months, with possible new image themes. Meanwhile, the Forest Mausoleums, designed by Batlleiroig Architects—the same firm that designed Roques Blanques Cemetery 35 years ago—are meant to be buried half a meter below the meadow known as the Forest Path. Each mausoleum will have an independent and intimate plot covered with shrubbery. Nearby, a natural stone bench will be placed as a viewpoint for the landscape and a resting spot for visitors. The burial site will include a small vertical stone, similar to a stele, where the deceased's name can be engraved.
Cremation Approaching 52% at Àltima
The primary trend in recent years in the funeral sector is cremation. At Àltima, this option now accounts for nearly 52% of the company's services in the past year. According to company data, in Catalonia, the figure exceeds 45%, a trend solidified in urban areas—approaching 50% in the metropolitan area of Barcelona—but increasingly growing in less populated areas as well. According to Joan Ventura, General Director of Cemeteries at the company, "Cremation began to rise significantly about ten years ago and has become a trend in our country. It is the most significant change in recent times in the funeral services sector, and we have been gradually adapting to it by integrating crematory services into various funeral homes and cemeteries we manage, as well as offering specific burial sites and urns for ashes." In this regard, Àltima has launched a new crematory furnace this year at the funeral home that opened just over a year ago in Terrassa, in the Can Petit neighborhood. The company now has a total of eight crematories across Catalonia, mainly in the provinces of Barcelona and Girona (Figueres and Ripoll). Before the end of the year, the company plans to open the Tanatori del Litoral, a facility in Sant Adrià de Besòs that will be managed jointly with PFB - Serveis Funeraris and will also feature cremation services and a garden for the interment of ashes.
Of Àltima's total services, 80% opt for eco-friendly caskets—made from controlled wood, water-based varnished, and free of metal components or synthetic fabrics—and 40% of the urns are already biodegradable—primarily made from clay, salt, clay, or bamboo. Changing habits regarding farewells are also reflected in the type of ceremony, with over 19% choosing secular options and just over 80% opting for religious celebrations, predominantly Catholic.
The Funeral Company with the Most Electric Vehicles
Sustainability extends to mobility at Àltima, both for funeral vehicles and commercial ones. The company plans to expand its fleet of electric cars with 10 new units, mainly during the first quarter of 2020. This will bring its total to 23 electric vehicles, making it the funeral company with the largest fleet of electric cars in the country and Europe. The company was a pioneer in 2009 with the acquisition of the ION, a 100% electric hearse, and in 2013, with the addition of the new E-Moon model, which offers greater autonomy than the previous one. The company's goal is to achieve a 100% electric fleet in the medium term.
Tribute Book to Roques Blanques' Nature and Promotion of Natural Flower Offerings
Coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the facility, Roques Blanques has just published a book reviewing the flora and fauna present at the site, as well as various projects undertaken at the cemetery for the study and preservation of bats and butterflies. Titled "The Municipal Cemetery of Roques Blanques" and published in collaboration with the Granollers Natural Science Museum, the book is a beautiful visual tribute to the various species at the cemetery, with texts by biologist Carles Flaquer, illustrations by Salvador Vinyes, and photographs by Sílvia and Oriol Massana. The book will be given to the families using Roques Blanques.
In line with promoting this privileged environment where Roques Blanques is located, the cemetery has launched an initiative this year to encourage the use of natural flowers for All Saints' Day. Thus, the facility will offer a free natural plant to users who bring in their old artificial flowers (from October 28 to November 1, while supplies last). The goal is to reduce plastic waste in cemeteries and promote composting using natural flowers.