If you missed it, here’s a chance to watch our recent talk at this year’s Lifting the Lid International Festival of Death and Dying. Full of great advice and information about the choices we can all make, both as individuals and as businesses, to reduce our carbon footprint and tread more lightly on this wonderful planet of ours.
Lifting the Lid International Festival of Death and Dying took place over the weekend of 15th November 2024. Founded and run by Jo Dagless and Victoria Keen the festival was, as always, packed with interesting talks and fascinating insights into an eclectic range of subjects related to death, dying and bereavement.
The festival is truly international, with speakers and participants from all over the world, 24 hours a day over 3 jam-packed days. It’s great to hear how people both nationally and internationally are doing wonderful work in the field and dealing with similar issues and concerns.
Once again, whiteballoon was delighted to have been given the opportunity to host a talk at this important event.
Made in Britain: Eco-conscious independents and Artisans Leading the Way in the Funeral Sector
In a week where COP29 was taking place in Azerbaijan, and the terrible floods in Europe were splashed (if you will forgive the pun) across every newspaper and television screen, this talk felt particularly pertinent.
Our five guest speakers are making a difference on many different levels – through information and education, in the way that they run their businesses, and by creating beautiful environmentally friendly funeral items from locally sourced materials.
Sarah Jones – Sarah is an ex-NHS Doctor and founder of Full Circle Funerals, an independent, B Corp-registered funeral directors. Sarah also runs an accredited Funeral Care Carbon Literacy training course.
Sophia Campbell-Shaw – Sophia is founder of Woven Farewell Coffins, making beautiful coffins from locally sourced willow. Sophia is passionate about promoting ecologically sustainable practices and supporting the growing movement of family-centric funerals.
Claire Lyons – Claire is a bereaved parent and writer who works with the Woodland Burial Company at Granville’s Wood natural burial ground, helping them to create the deepest, positive impact in their work.
Yuli Somme – Yuli is a textile artist and founder of Bellacouche. At her workshop in Devon, Yuli creates beautiful, wool felt shrouds and urns from the region’s certified organic wool flocks.
Brendan and Carolyn Day – Brendan and Carolyn are founders of Greener Globe Funeral Standards, a sustainability audit scheme for the funeral sector which encourages businesses to take steps to review and minimise their environmental impact.
It is so encouraging to hear about concrete steps, both small and large, that we can all take to reduce our carbon footprint, and to see what others are doing in the sector to do their bit too.
Thank you to all of our guest speakers for giving their precious time to talk to us, and to all of the people who joined us to listen and participate on the day. And, of course, a huge thank you to Jo and Victoria from Lifting the Lid for hosting such a vibrant and inspiring festival.
The festival is organised and run by volunteers and is always grateful for donations and support, however small. If you would like to find out more, please go to Lifting the Lid International Festival of Death and Dying.