Coffins made of certified wood from controlled felling, shrouds and biodegradable urns, transportation of the deceased in hybrid and electric vehicles, reminders made of recycled paper, wreaths of organically grown flowers or the possibility of planting a tree in memory and homage to a deceased person are all some of the options that families have to say goodbye to a loved one in a sustainable and ecological way.
Mémora, the first group of funeral services in Spain and Portugal, offers the relatives of the deceased the possibility of contracting a funeral service that generates the minimum environmental impact. The development of the company’s quality, environment and social responsibility policy in energy matters prioritizes sustainability and minimizing the continuous use of available resources in its products and procedures. As a whole, ecofunerales reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 30%, as well as the emission of toxic dioxins for health. In a large part of the Group, and specifically in Catalonia, Mémora has been offsetting 100% of its emissions for two years, so the carbon footprint is zero.
Among the options that Mémora offers families are ecological coffins. To respect biodiversity and forest conservation, the company uses certified wood coffins produced by Eurocoffin, its coffin factory. This ensures that the raw material for its products comes from controlled felling and subsequent reforestation (PEFC). In turn, he acquires pieces of wood of different sizes for the construction of the different models of coffins, which allows him to adjust them to production and make the most of the wood. The sawdust generated in the manufacturing process is also used as fuel for the biomass boiler that produces the energy necessary to obtain hot water.
To ensure that noxious emissions are reduced in cremation services, Mémora has replaced synthetic solvent varnishes with water-based varnishes in most of the coffins it produces. The entire range of coffins produced at Eurocoffin has obtained the Management System certification for the specific standard for coffins UNE EN 190001 with the AENOR entity.
In 2022, 93.01% of the coffins supplied by the company were organic, 4.1% more than in 2021. It should be noted that non-ecological coffers produce high greenhouse gas emissions. For this reason, in the cremation protocol, only those with ecological coffins are authorized at the Mémora facilities. In addition, the company has installed dioxin filters in some of its crematoria, anticipating the Spanish and European standards that regulate the emission of these chemical compounds into the atmosphere. At present, an adaptation plan for the crematorium ovens is being carried out, in compliance with the European emission regulations. And in all its services, Grupo Mémora uses shrouds made with biodegradable natural fabrics or fibers that have a lower environmental impact and reduce and recycle the metal waste generated in cremations.
The control and optimization of electricity consumption and the use of renewable sources are other actions by Mémora to increase its environmental commitment and minimize the impact of its activity on the environment. “We want to avoid wasting or wasting energy; we believe that it is the best way to reduce the impact of our activity on the environment and on the company’s economy,” say the spokespersons for Grupo Mémora.
In the energy efficiency policy, the company implements measures to take into account with respect to electricity, water, climate, fuel, ovens, office equipment and waste treatment. For example, last year the Group began a plan to install photovoltaic panels at its facilities, which has enabled it to reduce dependence on electricity companies and, above all, to be more sustainable. In 2022, 90% of the electrical energy used came from renewable sources with a zero emission factor, and the Group has a fleet of 90 hybrid vehicles and a fleet of electric vehicles that it also plans to increase. In addition, Mémora has facilities in which rainwater is reused, stored in tanks and reused to irrigate gardens and sanitary uses, such as in the Sancho de Ãvila funeral home.
It should be noted that eleven of Grupo Mémora’s reference centers in Spain have obtained ISO 14001 certification and 86 of the Portuguese subsidiary (Servilusa) have been audited by EIC, “two certifications that allow us to have a socially responsible position and differentiate ourselves from the competition”, added sources from the Group. Internal quality and environmental audits are carried out annually in all centers to monitor proper compliance with procedures and monitoring of indicators and environmental aspects.
