The motion was brought forward by Ormiston Councillor Hedley Abernethy and seeks to consider the feasibility of natural burials as a nature-friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation.
 
Cllr Abernethy said: “Natural burials can be a more sustainable, dignified and low-carbon alternative to conventional burials, and this motion is about providing people and their families with that choice.
 
“Natural burials, which involve the use of biodegradable coffins or shrouds, avoid embalming and often take place in woodland or meadow settings with minimal ongoing maintenance. They also have restorative benefits, such as increased biodiversity and carbon capture from planting trees.
 
“There is a growing interest in nature-friendly burials, and they’ve been successfully implemented in parts of the UK, with over 270 natural burial sites in England.
 
“According to the Natural Burial Alliance UK, the ethos behind a natural burial (often called a woodland burial) is to return the body to the earth in a natural way, and whilst this type of burial provides a natural, eco-friendly alternative, it also has other practical benefits such as easing pressure on traditional burial spaces by using marginal land.
 
“Burials of our loved ones are deeply personal, and I’m pleased that our motion has passed and we’re a step closer to being able to provide more choices for people in Belfast. This is not about putting an end to traditional burials or cremation, but to explore alternatives to allow people to have the dignity in death they wish for.”