For funerals involving a cremation, there are strict rules around what is allowed ahead of the cremation itself. These are to ensure the accuracy of carbon values posted by the crematoria as part of their local environmental obligations, but also for the health and safety of their staff.
Batteries
Our team will remove pacemakers or other medical implants containing batteries as well as any large metal hips or pins from the person who’s died when they come into our care.
Keepsakes
We encourage families to visit their loved ones and during these viewings, it’s common to leave keepsakes such as photos, books or toys. Some families choose to create displays, in and around, a coffin during the funeral service. In order to comply with regulations, we’ll have to ensure the following items are removed from the coffin before a cremation and can discuss how to return these to you.
- Batteries of any kind (eg. a toy)
- Glass, metal, plastic, ceramic, or porcelain items (eg. a photo frame)
- Sealed containers, aerosol, or pressurised items (eg. a favourite perfume)
- Rubber or PVC materials (eg. shoes)
- Books of any kind
Clothing
To minimise the release of pollutants, clothing made from natural fibres is preferred. However, we will follow the wishes of the person who’s died or yours if you are tasked with choosing an appropriate outfit.
Nameplates
Statutory regulations mean all coffins feature a name plate. For cremations, the name on the coffin nameplate must clearly match the information provided by the funeral director’s paperwork and any discrepencies are likely to lead to a delay to the funeral.
Throughout the process, your funeral director will advise and guide you through options to ensure the funeral being arranged is “just right”.