Poland’s funeral industry is rapidly adopting eco-
friendly solutions, drawing inspiration from other
European countries. Notable examples include
Montjuïc Cemetery in Spain and FriedWald
Cemetery in Germany. The growing public demand
for environmentally conscious funeral practices is
also a key driving force. Sustainable burial methods
align with the principles of sustainable development
and the global climate protection goals outlined in
the 2030 Agenda.
Pioneers of Ecological Funerals
The first fully ecological individual burial plots,
“Trees of Remembrance”, were established in 2024
in Kraków and Łódź, both major cities in Poland.
The inauguration of the first site was attended by
delegates of the FIAT-IFTA 2024 Convention, held
in Kraków in September 2024. Just a month later, a
similar section was created in Łódź.
Both ecological burial sites are managed by Grupa
KLEPSYDRA, the first publicly traded funeral
company on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and the
undisputed leader in Poland’s funeral services
sector. The company has been consolidating the
domestic funeral market while boldly introducing
innovative solutions to the industry. The introduction
of fully ecological burials was a response to social
demand and was met with highly positive public
reception, generating extensive media coverage
from Poland’s leading television networks and
business publications such as Forbes and Newsweek.
The ecological section in Kraków, located at
the Podgórki Tynieckie Municipal Cemetery, is
designated exclusively for urn burials, with 135 plots.
In contrast, the Łódź ecological section, situated at
the Evangelical-Augsburg Cemetery on Ogrodowa
Street 43, accommodates both urn burials (107
plots) and biodegradable coffin burials (17 plots).
These are the first individual ecological burial sites
in Poland.
These initiatives bring a new standard to
commemorating the deceased while aligning with
the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs): Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and
Communities – promoting inclusive, safe, and
sustainable urban spaces, Goal 13: Climate Action
– reducing carbon emissions and environmental
impact through biodegradable burial materials
as well as Goal 15: Life on Land – supporting
biodiversity conservation through the thoughtful
design of ecological burial grounds.
100% Ecology
Both “Trees of Remembrance” ecological burial
sections are distinguished by their commitment
to 100% eco-friendly funerals, ensuring minimal
environmental impact.
For urn burials, the cremation process follows strict
ecological standards. The body is cremated in a
coffin made of raw wood or cardboard, wrapped in a
shroud or dressed in garments made of pure cotton,
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No. 109 – SPRING 2025 | THANOS MAGAZINE
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