Parc de Roques Blanques Cemetery, finalist in the V Corresponsables Awards
The Corresponsables Foundation has awarded Roques Blanques for its innovative and environmentally respectful management policy.**
The cemetery is a pioneer in Spain in implementing ecological burial initiatives, such as the Forest of Calm and the Family Tree, with more than 950 native trees already planted.
October 2014.- The Comarcal Cemetery Parc de Roques Blanques has been selected as a finalist for the 5th Corresponsables Awards, organized by the Corresponsables Foundation. These awards honor the most innovative and sustainable projects in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Spain and Latin America across various types of organizations.
According to Joan Ventura, Director of Cemeteries for the Áltima group, which manages Roques Blanques, “this award is a recognition of the management philosophy of this cemetery, which has from its inception committed to protecting the natural and privileged environment in which it is located, in the Collserola mountain range. Being a finalist in the Corresponsables Awards encourages us to continue working in this direction.” Among Roques Blanques’ many environmental initiatives are ecological burial options in the forest, which promote the planting of trees and the responsible management of ashes, as well as participation in projects for the protection of native flora and fauna, in collaboration with the Collserola Foundation and the Granollers Natural Science Museum. This commitment is also certified through the EMAS (EcoManagement and Audit Scheme) environmental registration, which the cemetery has held since 2008.
Roques Blanques, a Responsible Cemetery
Due to its perfect integration into nature, Roques Blanques is considered one of the best examples of a "park cemetery" in our country. Located in the western end of the Collserola mountain range, in the municipality of El Papiol (Barcelona), and covering an area of 50 hectares, the cemetery seamlessly blends into the landscape. Its design respects the topography of the land, with no elevated structures, niche streets, or walls enclosing it.
Owned by the Baix Llobregat Regional Council and managed by the Áltima funeral group, Roques Blanques has been characterized since its inception by a highly committed environmental management policy. In this regard, it has undertaken two pioneering initiatives in Spain, such as the Forest of Calm and the Family Tree, to respond to the growing demand for cremation. These are alternatives for the burial of ashes that allow the planting of a native Collserola tree—such as an oak, cork oak, or pine—and bury up to five biodegradable urns nearby. This initiative has also contributed to the reforestation of a part of the Collserola forest that was burned several years ago. Since its launch, more than 950 trees have been planted.
Roques Blanques also features the Garden and Rest Fountain, a Zen-style space that allows for controlled ash scattering and recycling of non-ecological urns, thereby preventing abandonment in natural spaces. Alternatively, ashes can be mixed with a biodegradable urn in a fountain.
In addition to these ecological burial options, Roques Blanques undertakes several initiatives that promote threatened flora and fauna in Collserola Park—such as bats, amphibians, dark hedgehogs, and common squirrels—energy resource savings—through reduced water and paper consumption—pollution prevention—via electric vehicles—and reduction of environmental impacts—by recycling waste, controlling emissions from incineration furnaces, and promoting the use of wood from controlled logging for coffins. Roques Blanques also encourages visitors to use natural flowers that can be recycled as compost.
Roques Blanques’ candidacy for the Corresponsables Awards was evaluated by a CSR expert jury from a total of 345 initiatives from more than ten Latin American countries. In total, ten winning projects were recognized, and 50 more were finalists, mainly from countries such as Spain, Argentina, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, and Chile. Over 300 people attended the ceremony for the fifth edition of these awards, held at the Caixaforum in Madrid on September 23. The event was streamed online in several Latin American countries.