The Roques Blanques Cemetery will feature the largest natural burial space in Spain for ashes

Papiol, October 28, 2016 – The public Cemetery Comarcal Parc de Roques Blanques, managed by Àltima, has announced a new project, “The Forest Path,” which will provide a one-kilometre mountain trail for the burial of biodegradable urns. Designed by the architectural firm Batlle&Roig Arquitectes, which also designed the original Roques Blanques Cemetery in 1984, this new space aims to integrate eco-friendly burial options into the cemetery’s natural landscape.

The Forest Path will feature a kilometre-long trail where urns can be buried directly into the earth along one side of the path, reinforced with logs and about one metre high (allowing for up to three urns vertically). The deceased’s details can be memorialized on a natural wooden plaque. Àltima will provide GPS coordinates to families choosing this option to ensure the burials blend seamlessly with nature.

Joan Ventura, General Director of Cemeteries at Àltima, states, “Cremation is an option that is growing year by year, and we expect it to reach 60% in the next decade in Catalonia, particularly in metropolitan areas like the one where Roques Blanques is located. Therefore, it is essential to offer controlled and sustainable options for the burial of ashes. Moreover, since the cemetery is situated in a privileged environment, at the foot of the Collserola Natural Park and close to Barcelona, we can provide unique burial options beyond traditional methods.”

The new initiative aligns with other established eco-friendly options at Roques Blanques, such as the Font del Repòs, which allows for the dissolution of ashes in biodegradable urns; the Jardí del Repòs, an area for scattering ashes; and the Bosc de la Calma, which has been a pioneer in Spain for offering the option to bury ashes and plant a native Collserola tree. Additionally, Roques Blanques now offers the option to bury up to five urns around a single mature tree, known as the Arbre Familiar. Currently, the cemetery features 2,000 trees with this service.

According to Àltima’s data, eco-friendly burial options represent 38% of funeral services, while cremation services have seen an annual increase of 1.5% to 2%. In 2015, cremation accounted for 40.46% of services in Catalonia, and 45.34% in the province of Barcelona.

Poppies in Memory of the Departed in Sitges

While Roques Blanques offers unique options for ashes in Spain, Àltima also provides various burial spaces across the 17 cemeteries it manages. Before the end of the year, the company will introduce a new area at the Cementiri de Les Pruelles in Sitges, called the Jardí de les Roselles. This will allow for the burial of a biodegradable urn in a landscaped area with a porcelain poppy placed above it, featuring the deceased’s name. The goal is to create a poppy field memorial.

Firm Commitment to the Environment

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintain its environmental commitment, Àltima regularly assesses and publishes its carbon footprint report, which tracks emissions from each of its 45 facilities (funeral homes, crematoria, and cemeteries) and helps implement measures to reduce pollution. It is the first funeral company to undertake such a study, conducted by the eco-innovation agency Inèdit, affiliated with the Research Park of the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

mivoluntad: New Service for Pre-Planning Funerals

To allow individuals to plan and pay for their funeral in advance, avoiding difficult or hasty decisions for their families, Àltima has introduced the new service mivoluntad. Aimed at individuals over 70 without death insurance, this service enables them to specify all their funeral preferences, from the type of casket to music and obituaries. Through a contract with a set budget for the chosen service, Àltima offers the option to prepay for the funeral. The company guarantees the amount paid will be maintained for 5 years, after which it will be adjusted for inflation every five years.