Ecological burials offer a more environmentally friendly farewell
Death is a topic that is rarely discussed in Czech society. Yet the way we say goodbye to our dead reveals much about how we approach nature, life, and the values we consider important. In recent years, more and more people have begun to ask whether a traditional funeral truly has to be the only option – and whether there are ways to say farewell to a loved one that are more environmentally friendly. Ecological funerals are not merely a passing trend, but a considered response to the question of what happens to our bodies after we depart, and what imprint we leave on the planet even after our death.
Interest in this topic is growing worldwide. According to surveys by the British organisation Dying Matters, an ever-increasing percentage of people across age groups are considering a more ecological funeral – and not only those who generally take an interest in sustainable living. This is logical. If someone has spent their whole life sorting waste, avoiding plastics, and choosing local produce, it is natural that they would want their final journey to reflect these values.
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What does a traditional funeral actually do to the environment?
In order to understand why ecological alternatives make sense, it is useful to first look at how environmentally demanding conventional methods of burial are. A classic burial in the ground with a lacquered wooden coffin lined with synthetic materials involves a whole range of ecologically problematic elements. The production of a coffin consumes wood from often poorly managed forests, formaldehyde and other chemical substances are used in embalming the body, and funeral ceremonies are associated with transport, energy consumption, and waste production. The funeral industry in the United States alone consumes enormous quantities of steel, concrete, and chemicals each year, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.
Cremation, which is very widespread in the Czech Republic – according to data from the Czech Statistical Office, more than 80% of the deceased are cremated – is more economical in terms of land use, but is energy-intensive. The burning of a body releases CO₂, nitrogen dioxide, and, in the case of dental amalgam fillings, mercury into the atmosphere. This does not mean that cremation is a poor choice, but it is fair to say that it too is not without environmental impact.
It is precisely from this awareness that the desire for alternatives grows – for methods of burial that are closer to the natural cycles of nature and that do not leave behind an unnecessary ecological footprint.
What ecological funeral options exist?
The world of ecological funerals is surprisingly varied. In countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Scandinavia, many of these alternatives are already fully established and enshrined in law. In the Czech Republic, the situation is more complex, but certainly not without hope.
The best-known and most accessible form of ecological burial is the so-called natural burial, in which the body is placed in the ground without a coffin, or in a coffin made from biodegradable materials – such as wicker, bamboo, sturdy cardboard, or unlacquered wood. The body is not embalmed with chemical substances, and the grave is not marked with a stone headstone, but rather with a living tree or a simple wooden plaque. Such burial grounds, known in the English-speaking world as "woodland burial grounds," offer bereaved families a place of peace in the midst of nature, where they can connect with their loved one in a different way than at a traditional stone cemetery.
Another interesting option is aquamation, also referred to as alkaline hydrolysis. This is a process in which the body is broken down using water and potassium hydroxide at an elevated temperature. The result is bones, which can then be cremated, and a nutrient-rich liquid that can be used as fertiliser. Aquamation is significantly less energy-intensive than cremation and does not release harmful substances into the atmosphere. It is currently legally available in, for example, the United Kingdom, parts of the United States, and Canada.
Sounding even more futuristic, yet at the same time very natural, is a method known as terramation, or "human composting." The body is placed in a specially designed vessel together with organic material, where it naturally composts under strictly controlled conditions in approximately 30 to 45 days. The resulting soil can be used in a garden or forest. This method was first legalised by the US state of Washington in 2019, and has since been adopted by several other states. It is as though the words of the poet Walt Whitman are thereby fulfilled: "Every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you" – the body literally returns to the cycle of life.
There are also lesser-known innovations, such as burial using fungi – a special suit covered in mycelium that helps decompose the body and neutralise toxins. This method is promoted by the American company Coeio and, while it remains more of an experiment, it demonstrates the direction in which ecological funerals are heading.
What does the legislation look like in the Czech Republic?
And now to the question that concerns everyone who is thinking about an ecological funeral in practical terms: what does Czech legislation permit? The basic legal framework is Act No. 256/2001 Coll. on Funeral Services, which sets out the conditions for handling human remains, the operation of burial grounds, and funeral services. This act was adopted at a time when ecological alternatives to burial were virtually unknown in the Czech context, and its content reflects this accordingly.
Czech legislation currently permits two basic forms of burial: interment in the ground and cremation. The body must be placed in a registered burial ground or cremated at a crematorium. This means that the majority of the alternatives mentioned above – aquamation, terramation, or woodland burials in the true sense of the word – are not legally available in the Czech Republic. The act, for example, makes no explicit provision for burial outside designated burial grounds, and therefore not for burial beneath a tree on private land, as is the case in some other countries.
Nevertheless, there are certain possibilities for approaching an ecological funeral even within the current legal framework. Cremation itself offers relatively considerable freedom in the handling of ashes. While the act stipulates that ashes must be placed in a burial ground, it also permits their scattering in designated scattering areas that form part of burial grounds. Some bereaved families choose to scatter ashes in nature – for example, into a river or in a forest. This practice takes place in something of a legal grey area; the authorities do not generally prosecute it explicitly, yet the act does not strictly define it as permitted outside of burial grounds.
With regard to coffin materials, the act does not specify precise requirements and does not exclude the use of environmentally friendly materials. Coffins made from wicker, bamboo, or cardboard are therefore legally usable, provided they meet basic hygiene and technical requirements. This opens up space for genuinely more sustainable choices even within the existing system. Some Czech funeral services already offer these options or are willing to arrange them at the request of the bereaved.
The question of woodland cemeteries in the Czech Republic remains open for now. Discussions about their introduction are ongoing, but specific legislative changes have yet to be enacted. In neighbouring Germany, so-called "Friedwälder" – woodland cemeteries where ashes are interred at the base of trees – have been functioning as a fully-fledged alternative since the 1990s. The Czech Republic could follow a similar path, should the Funeral Services Act undergo the necessary amendment.
The situation is well illustrated by the story of a family from Brno who, following the death of their grandmother, sought a way to bury her in keeping with her lifelong relationship with nature. The grandmother had tended her garden throughout her life and wished to be buried beneath a tree. The family ultimately chose cremation with the ashes placed in a biodegradable urn, which was buried at the base of an oak tree in a burial ground with a natural character. Although it was not a woodland burial in the full sense of the word, it was a compromise that gave the family a sense of meaningful farewell.
What can you do today?
Despite the legislative limitations, the situation is not without hope. Public interest in more ecological forms of burial is growing, and with it the pressure for changes to the law. Organisations such as Naděje pro umírání and various initiatives in the field of palliative care are gradually opening up public discussion about how we wish to approach death – and consequently, burial as well.
If you want your final journey to be as environmentally friendly as possible, it is worth thinking about several specific things. When choosing a funeral service, ask about the possibility of an ecologically friendly coffin or urn. Biodegradable urns made from peat, salt, or recycled paper are available in the Czech Republic as well. If you opt for cremation, find out whether the crematorium meets modern emissions standards. And last but not least – leave a written statement of your wishes regarding your burial. Those you leave behind will not then have to guess, and can focus on their grief and their memories.
An ecological funeral is not about sacrificing dignity or tradition. It is rather about a conscious decision that, even in the final act of one's life, one wishes to be in harmony with the values one has upheld. Czech legislation currently lags behind what other European countries offer, but the pressure for change is growing – and with it the hope that in the near future, everyone will have the opportunity to choose a farewell that is truly their own.
