4 Eco-Friendly Practices to Keep in Mind During Funeral Travel

Everyone, at least once in their life, will need to attend a funeral of a loved one. For some, they’ll need to travel farther than others. Honestly, this is usually a less exciting time in a person’s life, and it’s easy to see why. No one wants to travel during sad circumstances like this; no one enjoys having to travel for serious matters like this. 

But with that said, even during your travels and making peace with this death, it’s important to stay sustainable just by being plastic-free, staying away from waste, and trying to reduce your emissions as much as you can. Yes, you can still manage this, even during hard times like this. So, here are some eco-friendly practices that you should keep in mind while you’re traveling to a funeral. 

Look into Sustainable Transportation

One thing that you need to keep in mind is that you can opt for eco-friendly modes of transportation, such as trains or buses, over individual car travel or air transportation when possible. Public transportation options generally have a lower carbon footprint, reducing the environmental impact of your journey. Of course, if you’re living far away, such as in Barbados, and you have a funeral in the USA, then of course your only option is to use airfare. 

But if you’re able to use public transportation, then go for it, but if you literally can’t, then please don’t feel guilty- you’re literally out of options. But taking these out, if it’s a far distance, but to where you don’t need to take a plane or boat, and public transportation is just off the menu, then see if you can either do some carpooling or ride-sharing. Shared rides significantly reduce the number of vehicles on the road, minimizing carbon emissions. Plus, during funerals, it’s pretty common to do carpooling since this is usually group travel oriented. 

Try to Offset Your Carbon Footprint

So, if you’re feeling guilty for something, such as needing to take a plane to get to the funeral, there is technically a way to offset the emissions from your footprint. You might want to look into the many organizations that offer carbon offset programs; these allow you to compensate for the environmental impact of your travel by contributing to sustainable projects. So, you might want to consider investing in carbon offset initiatives to mitigate the emissions associated with your journey.

Look into Sustainable Funeral Products

Suppose you’re the one who needs to plan the funeral. In that case, it’s going to be a good idea to incorporate some sustainable elements into this, from upright grave markers, the casket, the food that’s being provided, the flowers, and the list can just go on and on. These all align with environmentally friendly values, and it’s a nice way to send off a loved one in a positive way.

Choose Green Accommodations

When booking lodging during your stay, you’ll need to try to prioritize environmentally conscious hotels or accommodations with green certifications if they’re available. These establishments often implement energy-saving measures, waste-reduction practices, and sustainable initiatives.