We’re incredibly pleased to announce that we’ve made a little bit of history in the world of funeral sustainability.

H. Porter & Sons has become the first funeral director in the UK to achieve the Greener Globe Funeral Awards Platinum certificate.

The certification is in recognition of our efforts to reduce the impact of funerals on the environment and builds on the Bronze award we received earlier this year.

So how did we get here?

The Greener Globe Funeral Awards is the “first and only environmental award scheme for funeral directors”.

An acknowledgement of high environmental standards, the awards are aimed at helping businesses to demonstrate “effective management” and their “desire to understand and control” their impact on the climate and nature.

The Platinum award requires the completion of a sustainability audit that examines all parts of a funeral directing business, to identify the areas which are already sustainable and those where further work is required.

The audit is scored by ISO 14001 auditors, resulting in Silver, Gold or Platinum awards.

Our earlier Bronze award was achieved by adopting an environmental policy that provides a framework for becoming more sustainable. This was, in fact, something we already had in place as part of our longstanding commitment to sustainability.

Measures we’ve taken over the years include:

  • working with local suppliers to reduce the miles of goods bought and used by the business
  • eco-friendly gardening practices in our grounds
  • the use of recyclable or compostable tableware in The Lounge
  • supporting conservation initiatives through the John Porter Community Fund
  • cycle-to-work schemes for colleagues
  • the promotion of more climate-friendly coffins

Commenting on the Platinum award Lucy Porter, Director of H. Porter & Sons, said she was honoured to receive the certificate, adding:

“Modern funeral directing has evolved to ensure people receive high standards of care and support when a family member or friend dies. But now there is a growing awareness of the need to care for the planet too.

“As a responsible business, we’re determined to do things differently – and ensure families are able to say goodbye in a way that helps to protect the world for future generations.”

If you would like to know more about our sustainability initiatives, please don’t hesitate to contact us via enquiries@hporter.co.uk.