Environmental and Ethical Policy

At Rounce Funeral Services, we are dedicated to providing dignified and compassionate care while upholding our commitment to environmental sustainability and ethical responsibility. We recognise the impact funeral services can have on the environment and society, and we strive to operate in a way that minimises harm and promotes positive change.

Environmental and Ethical Policy

At Rounce Funeral Services, we believe that caring for the deceased and supporting bereaved families go hand in hand with treating people, our community and the environment responsibly.

As an independent family funeral director serving Worthing and the surrounding area since 2004, we aim to provide dignified, compassionate care while making thoughtful choices about the materials we use, the suppliers we work with and the way we operate.

We recognise that funeral services can have environmental and social impacts. We are committed to making responsible choices, offering families meaningful options and continually looking for practical ways to improve our environmental and ethical practices.

Our Environmental Commitments

Sustainable Funeral Options

We offer a range of funeral choices for families who wish to consider their environmental impact, including biodegradable coffins, natural burials and other natural funeral options.

We also offer direct cremation for families who prefer a simpler arrangement without an attended service at the crematorium. Depending on the circumstances, a simpler arrangement may reduce some transport and resource use, although the environmental impact of any funeral varies according to the arrangements made.

We work with suppliers who share our commitment to responsible sourcing and seek to use materials that are appropriate, sustainable and considerate of the environment.

Reducing Our Carbon Footprint

We seek to reduce the environmental impact of our day-to-day operations wherever reasonably practicable. This includes:

• Planning funeral transport and journeys carefully to help reduce unnecessary mileage and emissions.

• Encouraging car-sharing where appropriate and practical.

• Using energy-efficient lighting, heating and office equipment across our premises.

• Working with crematoriums that prioritise lower-emission practices, where these options are available.

We recognise that not every environmental impact can be avoided, but we aim to make sensible improvements wherever we can.

Minimising Waste and Plastic Use

We aim to minimise unnecessary waste throughout our business by:

• Using recycled and recyclable materials for printed materials and packaging where suitable.

• Discouraging single-use plastics and seeking more sustainable alternatives where practical.

• Considering the environmental impact of the materials and products used in our services.

• Avoiding unnecessary use of resources wherever possible.

Floral Tributes and Natural Care

We encourage families to consider locally grown, seasonal flowers, which may help reduce transport-related environmental impacts compared with flowers transported over longer distances.

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We do not embalm the people entrusted to our care. We believe that dignified and respectful care can be provided without embalming, using our own refrigerated facilities and appropriate care practices. This avoids the use of embalming chemicals and supports a more natural approach to funeral care.

We are also happy to discuss natural funeral choices with families who wish to make arrangements that reflect their personal values and environmental concerns.

Responsible Water and Energy Use

We aim to use water and energy responsibly across our facilities. We seek to reduce unnecessary consumption, make sensible use of energy-efficient equipment and encourage staff to follow practical measures that conserve energy and water.

We recognise that these everyday measures form part of our wider responsibility to reduce waste and improve the sustainability of our operations.

Our Ethical Commitments

Compassion, Dignity and Integrity

Our first responsibility is to care for the deceased with dignity and to support bereaved families with compassion, sensitivity and respect.

We listen to each family's wishes and aim to ensure that funeral arrangements reflect the life, values and beliefs of the person who has died, as well as the wishes of those arranging the funeral.

We are committed to acting honestly and professionally, providing clear information and treating every family fairly.

Clear and Transparent Pricing

We believe families should be able to understand the services available to them and the costs involved.

We provide clear, transparent pricing and explain the services included, any additional choices and relevant third-party costs. We do not believe families should face unexpected charges arising from unclear information.

Our aim is to help families make informed decisions with confidence, without pressure and with a clear understanding of their options.

Community Engagement

As an independent family business established in Worthing in 2004, we value our connections with the local community.

We support local charities, bereavement groups and community initiatives, and are proud to contribute to events and causes that bring people together. We also value our relationships with local businesses and independent suppliers who contribute to the services we provide.

We believe that being a funeral director means more than arranging funerals: it means being part of the community we serve and supporting it wherever we reasonably can.

Fair and Inclusive Practices

We respect the different religious, cultural and personal beliefs of the families we serve. We aim to provide an inclusive service that recognises individual wishes and does not make assumptions about how a family wants to remember someone.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in our business, and to treating families, colleagues, suppliers and other people we work with fairly and respectfully.

Staff Wellbeing and Development

The nature of funeral work can be emotionally demanding. We recognise the importance of a respectful working environment in which staff are treated fairly and their wellbeing is taken seriously.

We are committed to fair employment practices, appropriate opportunities for professional development and supporting staff in managing the emotional demands of their work.

We also encourage awareness of the environmental and ethical responsibilities associated with our work, including practical ways to conserve resources and reduce unnecessary waste.

Responsible Sourcing

We seek to work with suppliers who share our commitment to ethical conduct and environmental responsibility.

When selecting coffins, urns and other funeral-related materials, we consider the suitability, quality and origin of the products, alongside relevant environmental and ethical considerations.

We value responsible suppliers and independent businesses and aim to make informed purchasing decisions that reflect the standards we seek to uphold.

Our Commitment to Natural and Thoughtful Funeral Choices

Rounce Funeral Services is proud to be recommended by the Natural Death Centre, an organisation that helps people explore funeral choices, including natural burial and alternatives to conventional funeral practices.

We recognise that families have different priorities. Some may wish to consider a natural burial or biodegradable coffin; others may be looking for a simpler funeral or a particular way to honour the person who has died.

Our role is to explain the available options clearly and sensitively, enabling families to make choices that feel right for them. We aim to offer meaningful choices without pressure and to respect each family's wishes.

Continuous Improvement

We recognise that environmental and ethical responsibility is an ongoing commitment rather than a one-off exercise.

We aim to review our practices periodically, listen to feedback from families and staff, and consider relevant developments in funeral care, environmental awareness and professional guidance. Where practical improvements can be made, we will seek to incorporate them into the way we work.

Our commitments include reducing unnecessary waste and resource use, treating people fairly, supporting our local community, sourcing responsibly and providing families with clear information and genuine choice.

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At Rounce Funeral Services, we are committed to honouring life, caring for people with dignity and acting responsibly towards the world we leave behind.