Bob Prout, the third-generation owner of Prout Funeral Home, was a pioneer in the concept of green burials, interments that have a smaller impact on nature. Just ahead of Earth Day, Prout and his daughter Julia spoke about green burials for the National Funeral Directors Association’s Remembering A Life podcast.
According to the association, nearly 40% of people are interested in green funeral options, which can range from no embalming or the use of a biodegradable casket to using locally-grown organic flowers and funeral guest carpooling. Prout offers many of these options in its natural burials packages.
The Prouts are committed to the environment in other ways too. The business was the first Verona structure to have solar panels and it now has a Tesla Destination charger. Bob Prout has served for several decades on the Verona Shade Tree Commission. Julia Prout, who became a licensed funeral director in 2018, did a concentration in sustainability at The George Washington University, and has presented webinars and lectures on green funerals and natural burials.
You can listen to the podcast here.
