SUSTAINABLE FAREWELLS

SUSTAINABLE FAREWELLS

more people than ever are thinking carefully about the environmental impact of a farewell - not just what happens at the ceremony, but afterwards too.

gone. guides families through the options, helping them understand what is genuinely available and how sustainable choices can be woven into a farewell that feels as beautiful and considered as any other we produce.

What is a natural burial?

Natural burial places the body directly into the earth without embalming chemicals, metal caskets or concrete vaults. The aim is to allow the body to return naturally to the surrounding landscape - an approach that many people find not only environmentally meaningful, but quietly profound.

Natural burial grounds are typically managed as protected natural environments - places of genuine beauty and quiet significance. A biodegradable coffin or shroud replaces the traditional casket, there is no embalming, and native vegetation is restored in place of a headstone. The result is a resting place that continues to live and grow.

Ceremonies often take place within the landscape itself, creating a setting that feels elemental, unhurried and deeply grounded. It is one of the most personal and considered farewells we help produce.

Availability varies by state across Australia, and the requirements and settings differ considerably. Gone. can help families understand what is genuinely available in their area, and design a farewell ceremony that honours both the person and the landscape that surrounds them.

WHAT is aquamation?

Aquamation - also known as alkaline hydrolysis - is a water-based alternative to flame cremation.

It uses a gentle combination of water, temperature and natural chemistry to return the body to its elemental form. The process is quiet, considered, and increasingly chosen by those who want a lower-impact alternative without compromising on the care and dignity afforded to the person who has died.

Compared with traditional cremation, aquamation typically uses significantly less energy and produces considerably fewer emissions. Families still receive ashes at the conclusion of the process - which can be kept, scattered, or incorporated into a memorial in exactly the same ways as with cremation.

Gone. can help families understand whether aquamation is available and appropriate in their circumstances, and ensure that it is incorporated into the farewell or memorial in a way that feels seamless and meaningful.

How gone. helps

Sustainable farewell options require careful navigation. Availability varies significantly by location across Australia - and what is possible in one state may not be available in another. We will always be clear about what is genuinely available in your circumstances, and we will never suggest an option that cannot be delivered with the same quality and care as everything else we produce.

Our role is to guide, connect and produce. We do not operate burial grounds or crematoria - we work with trusted, vetted providers and ensure that whatever sustainable approach is chosen sits seamlessly within a farewell that feels beautiful, personal and complete.

Sustainability can also shape the experience itself - not just what happens to the body, but the entire sensory world of the farewell. This might include natural bush settings, biodegradable materials, seasonal and foraged florals, low-impact memorial objects, or planting rituals that give the gathering a living, ongoing presence.

frequently asked questions