GLOBAL ESG
SURVEY SIGNALS
A TURNING POINT FOR THE FUNERAL SECTOR
By Paulo Moniz Carreira, Chair of the FIAT-IFTA Sustainability and Development
Committee, on behalf of members of the committee
n an increasingly sustainability-
conscious and socially responsible
world, ESG (Environmental, Social, and
Governance) principles have become
essential in guiding business practices
across all industries – including the
funeral sector. Traditionally viewed
as a sensitive and essential service,
the funeral industry now faces new
challenges and opportunities related to
its environmental footprint, social role,
and ethical governance.
Globally, the adoption of ESG practices in the
funeral sector reflects a paradigm shift: from
merely providing services to actively contributing
to sustainable development goals. Issues such as
reducing waste emissions in cremation processes,
using biodegradable materials in coffins and urns,
supporting grieving communities, and promoting
equity and diversity within the workforce are
just a few examples of how ESG principles are
shaping the future of the industry.
In this context, it was approved in the FIAT-IFTA
I.C.D. meeting in Krakow, September 2024, to
create a sustainable and development committee
to, through the lens of ESG, highlighting
initiatives, challenges, and opportunities that
contribute to a more sustainable, ethical, and
socially responsible funeral sector.
A Sector-Wide Diagnosis
At the June 2025 meeting in Yokohama, the
Sustainability and Development Committee
FIAT-IFTA presented the results of its first global
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)
survey. This milestone initiative, launched in
nine languages and distributed among the
FIAT-IFTA members all over the world, marks a
foundational step in aligning the funeral sector
with global sustainability standards.
The survey is conducted considering the 3 ESG
pillars – Environmental, Social and Governance,
each once with its own dimensions, through
different topics like emissions, energy, community
engagement, human rights and labor standards,
or policy commitments and anti-corruption
policies.
The survey, conducted between May 5 and 16,
2025, received 65 responses from a diverse range
of organizations of different funeral sectors, such
as service providers, crematorium, repatriation
and funeral service. The majority were small to
medium-sized funeral service providers, with
a strong representation from Europe (56.8%)
and Latin America (21.6%). The data revealed
a sector that is both engaged and uneven in
its ESG maturity.
While 52.3% of respondents claimed to apply
ESG principles in their strategy, a deeper analysis
3 Pillars
ENVIROMENTAL
EMISSIONS
ENERGY
WATER
WASTE
MATERIALS
HUMAN RIGHTS
AND LABOUR
STANDARDS
EMPLOYEE
MANAGEMENT
DIVERSITY,
EQUITY AND
INCLUSION
OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH
AND SAFETY
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
GOVERNANCE
STRUCTURE
POLICY
COMMITMENTS
RISK
MANAGEMENT
AND REPORTING
ANTI-
CORRUPTION
CUSTOMER
PRIVACY
SOCIAL
GOVERNANCE
15 Topics
ESG - Context &Objective
18
No. 111 – AUTUMN 2025 | THANOS MAGAZINE
COMMITTEE NEWS