Passages International is a company that specializes in biodegradable and eco-friendly funeral products. The company’s president Darren Crouch was at the 2015 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) convention and took a moment to share some thoughts about the industry.
“We’re getting a lot of interest,” said Crouch. “I think that funeral directors are realizing they have to offer greener alternatives. Just like when you go to a Toyota dealership, they’re going to have a Tundra pickup truck and they’re going to have a Prius.”
“I think there’s a little bit of a disconnect where consumers see a lot of value in this, but the industry is a little bit behind in adopting some of these products and making them available to families,” he said. “I think they feel a little bit threatened in some regards, because of the unknown, but the more progressive funeral directors are really bringing these products and services in-house and integrating them into what they already do.”
One of the new products Passages International displayed at the NFDA expo was a shroud made of bamboo fabric that can be used for cremation or burial. They also offered a willow carrier that makes it easy to transport a shrouded body to the crematory or a burial site. The company’s website is www.PassagesInternational.com.