Environmentally friendly practices

Office Sharing: We share office spaces around Melbourne, reducing travel times and energy consumption, and allowing families easy access via public transport or bike.
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‍Digital Services: We reduce printing through digital alternatives for memorial books, order of service booklets, and tribute materials. We offer: Digital versions of traditional booklets. Online tribute options to replace physical cards and memorial books. Digital signatures for efficiency and reduced paper use.
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‍Eco-Friendly Printing: When printing is necessary, we use recycled paper, vegetable inks, and avoid plastic or toxic materials.
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‍Live Streaming: We offer live-streaming options at no additional profit, allowing distant family and friends to join remotely, reducing travel needs and the carbon footprint associated with travel.

Sustainable floral choices

By choosing Candour, you are supporting a commitment to ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility, ensuring that the beauty of flowers is not overshadowed by hidden environmental costs.

The global flower industry often conceals significant environmental and ethical concerns. Many flowers sold in Australia are imported from countries like Kenya, where workers often earn less than the minimum wage, and the environmental impact of transporting these blooms is substantial.

Strict no-plastic, non-toxic approach: Our floral arrangements adhere to a strict policy of using no plastic or toxic materials. We offer hand-tied options that serve as natural alternatives to traditional casket sheaths, eliminating the need for plastic bases or toxic foam.

Locally sourced blooms: We maintain a local-only sourcing policy, avoiding imports to reduce carbon emissions and to align with our ethical stance against the inequalities found in some international flower markets. By choosing local flowers, we support Australian growers and avoid contributing to the exploitation of workers in countries like Kenya.

Seasonal, customisable selections: Families can choose floral themes, and our florist will curate arrangements from local, seasonal blooms. This approach supports Australian growers and reduces pesticide exposure through Australia’s strict import standards.

Responsible Coffin Sourcing

Each coffin uses, on average, half to one tree. Our goal is to not just replace this but exceed it tenfold by planting trees, ensuring reforestation that far surpasses our usage.

We minimise plastic in our coffins, opting instead for environmentally friendly materials made from vegetable extracts that naturally break down over time.

Families may also choose to support this mission by purchasing additional trees in memory of their loved one through the tribute page.

Fleet and Transportation

Hybrid Vehicles: We are investing in hybrid vehicles to reduce fossil fuel use.

Fleet Maintenance: Regular upkeep of vehicles ensures they operate efficiently, minimising emissions.

Carpooling: Our staff travel together whenever possible, reducing the number of vehicles on the road and minimising our carbon footprint.

Community and Innovation

As a new company backed by deep expertise, Candour is committed to ongoing improvement and innovation in sustainable funeral practices. We will continue to introduce solutions that help us serve families responsibly and reduce our environmental impact.

Natural burials

Natural burials are a more earth-conscious decision, offering families a way to return to the earth with minimal environmental impact.

A natural burial involves:

Natural grave markers, such as a simple stone or GPS coordinates, in place of traditional headstones.
Burial grounds are often maintained as nature reserves or parklands, promoting the regeneration of local flora and fauna.

• ‍Single burial plots with shallower graves (usually around five feet) to allow the body to return to the earth naturally. Unlike traditional graves, which can fit multiple burials, a natural burial plot is reserved for one person only.
• Biodegradable coffins or shrouds, without synthetic or metal materials.
• No embalming chemicals, keeping your loved one as natural as possible.
• Natural grave markers, such as a simple stone or GPS coordinates, in place of traditional headstones.
• Burial grounds are often maintained as nature reserves or parklands, promoting the regeneration of local flora and fauna.

Cemeteries around Victoria offering natural burials:‍

• Bunurong Memorial Park – In the southeast of Melbourne, Bunurong provides natural burial services.
• Lilydale Memorial Park – Located in the Yarra Ranges, Lilydale offers a natural burial area.
• Melbourne General Cemetery – Some sections are dedicated to environmentally conscious burials.
• Gisborne Cemetery – Located in the Macedon Ranges, Gisborne offers natural burial options.
• Tarraville Cemetery – A rural option in Gippsland, known for its peaceful and natural burial areas.
• Kurweeton Road Cemetery (Upright Burials) – The only stand-up burial option in Victoria, located in Camperdown.

Stand up burials

An alternative environmentally conscious option is stand-up burials, available at Kurweeton Road Cemetery, Camperdown. This method allows the body to be buried in a vertical position, taking up less space and offering several benefits:

• Efficient land use: Vertical burials occupy less ground space than traditional graves, meaning more burials can be accommodated in the same area, conserving land.
• Minimal soil disturbance: Stand-up graves are dug using an auger, which disturbs much less soil compared to traditional horizontal burials. This helps preserve the natural landscape.
• Biodegradable materials: Bodies are placed in biodegradable shrouds, which naturally decompose without introducing synthetic materials or embalming chemicals into the soil.
• Carbon offsetting: For each burial, a tree is planted at nearby Mount Elephant. This initiative helps offset any emissions from the burial process and supports local habitat restoration.

Cemeteries around Victoria offering stand-up burials:

• Kurweeton Road Cemetery in Camperdown Victoria