A VIEW ON THE
GREEN SHIFT
By Dominique Temmerman,
International Business Developer
Funeral by Peleman, Belgium
Environmental awareness in the funeral sector looks
different in every country. As an international supplier
to all types of funeral homes, Funeral by Peleman has a
unique vantage point to observe trends as they emerge
across borders. Each nation addresses sustainability
in its own way, yet it has become clear that Europe
as a whole is rethinking funerals to meet changing
expectations from families as well as from government
institutions. With the BeNeLux and Scandinavian
countries acting as frontrunners, our partners and
a new wave of suppliers are demonstrating that
meaningful change is both possible and practical.
Making every funeral more sustainable
Two specific examples illustrate how innovative
thinking can open new doors. The first is Loop Biotech,
a Dutch scale-up focused on creating biodegradable
funeral products. From coffins to urns, all of its
offerings are grown from mushrooms, which makes
them entirely natural. Beyond being biodegradable,
these products can enrich the soil, giving back to
nature rather than taking from it. What stands out
about this company is that it began with an insight
drawn directly from nature. The business was built
on an environmentally friendly concept from day one,
rather than attempting to retrofit sustainability into
existing methods.
A second example is a broader trend gaining
momentum across Europe: the rise of resomation.
It is not surprising that cremation has a notable impact
on a country’s ecological footprint, mainly because
of the emissions it generates. While experimentation
with resomation and the chemical liquids it requires
might sound like something from a science fiction film,
innovations of this kind are, in our view, necessary if
the green shift in funeral care is to be truly impactful.
Progress often asks us to look beyond familiar
routines and embrace methods that align better with
environmental goals, especially when those methods
can be implemented safely and respectfully.
How Funeral by Peleman contributes
As a company, we attach high value to sustainable
and socially responsible entrepreneurship. Taking
concrete action to move towards a greener way of
working is therefore of great importance to us. In
2011 we installed our own wind turbines next to
our manufacturing centre in Puurs. With a battery
capacity of 2 megawatt per hour, we are able to
operate almost entirely on green energy. This
investment reflects our commitment to reducing
that 90% of the difference will come from working
together, shoulder to shoulder. In Mexico, we must
collaborate with all three levels of government to
establish the foundation for standardized funeral
services across the country. This would allow us to
set the minimum quality standards for memorials –
equipment, professionalization, mandatory use of
technology in processes, among others. Consensus-
based regulations are the most effective way to change
the mindset of funeral companies and encourage
investment in environmentally friendly technology.
Cremation in Mexico has gained momentum alongside
the use of ecological urns and coffins – a trend
increasingly requested by families. Many are also
opting for tree memorials and reforestation through
ashes. In contrast, alkaline hydrolysis is not currently
a very viable option due to the ongoing water-related
challenges.
The funeral industry must not fail in its support for
the environment. We must drive change from within
our companies, including discussing sustainability in
industry associations, committing to best practices,
and persistently engaging with authorities.
We need to do more – for the funeral industry and for
the environment.
36
No. 113 – 1/2026 | THANOS MAGAZINE
SUSTAINABILITY