JC Atkinson saves 165 tonnes of Co2 (that’s 47 return flights to Hong Kong) by harnessing the sun’s power. JC Atkinson, the leading independent manufacturer of coffins, caskets and urns, has calculated that installing solar panels into their factory roof has already saved between 165 to 180 tonnes of carbon dioxide (Co2 equivalent ) from being released into the environment. That’s the same amount produced by 47 economy class flights from London to Hong Kong… and back again!
The Solar PV system at the factory in Washington in the North East saves approximately 15 to 20 tonnes of carbon per year and has been powering the day-to-day electricity needs of the building since 2010. By the time the solar panels reach their 25year life span, those savings will reach at least 366 tonnes of carbon.
The solar panels are just one of many environmental initiatives JC Atkinson has introduced, and for which they have picked up several awards along the way, among them The Sunday Times Best Green Company Award and a special Good Funeral Guide award for Julian Atkinson as the supplier doing the most to move the funeral business forward and help make greener options the norm.
In the course of the last 30 years, the business has ensured all their mahogany-style wood coffins come from a named sustainable source, pioneered the use of waste wood in chipboard, secured FSC-certification for their coffins, harnessed the power of rainwater and biomass heating, launched Greener Goodbyes to make it easier for people to have a greener funeral, became a Carbon Trust Standard Bearer, planted over 10,000 trees, launched a plastic-free range… and supported environmental initiatives on a local and national scale!
Julian Atkinson, Managing Director, said of the company’s green track record:
“Looking back, I am really proud of all we have achieved, but not complacent. To be able to quantify and evidence our environmental claims in real terms is so important. As governments globally agree to climate change targets, domestically the regulatory drive to report carbon emissions will impact all sectors, including ours. Add to this the CMA’s push for greater transparency of green claims backed by evidence, and sustainability is front, centre and here to stay. I welcome that; consumers, increasingly, expect it.
*CO2 equivalent is the measure of how much a gas contributes to global warming, relative to carbon dioxide.
As a Funeral Directors who strives to offer the very best quality products available, we chose to use Atkinson’s Reflections range when it comes to picture coffins. Incorporating personal memories of the deceased that Jamie and the Reflections team have designed specifically for that individual family.
- Daniel from D.B.DevallsJust to let you know how elegant the Walnut Tree Oval coffin looked this morning - it caught everyone's eye, plenty of comments and none of the pallbearers had seen one like it. It really did look smart. The book for the name details is beautiful, really impressive.
- White Rose Modern FuneralsJust want to say a massive thank you to you & your team for this coffin, we along with the Humanist celebrant, crematorium staff, family and friends thought it was absolutely brilliant, on route to the crematorium there were people on the street taking photos of the coffin and EVERYONE had a big stupid smile on their faces.
- McKenzie and Millar - FuneralcareEveryone commented on how unusual the coffin was. Usually people are too scared to go up to the coffin at a funeral, but everyone went up to see and spent time looking at the photos that were displayed on the coffin. It made is so much easier to be close to dad
- Diane (on behalf of Poetic Endings Funeral Directors)Mum loved the outdoors and nature. She was very environmentally conscious. When we looked at your Eco friendly coffins we knew we’d be able to find something perfect for mum. It made such a sad time a little easier as we know she would have loved it.
- Mr & Mrs SingletonI loved the design on the picture coffin, it really captured my mother’s hobbies. She loved bowls, and to have the bowling green on was a wonderful way to say goodbye.
- Janice DohertyWe wanted to say goodbye to our sister Helen, but in something that was more than just ‘a box’. The different choices that were available in all styles was fascinating. We chose a beautiful American-style Casket and also got a separate keepsake in her memory.
- Carl & Becky Taylor