Swedish Church urges moderation in cemetery decorations

The Church of Sweden is calling for more sustainable practices during All Saints' Day to reduce the significant amount of waste generated at cemeteries. In Gothenburg alone, 12 tons of waste were recorded following last year's celebrations.

Johan Stråhle, a diocesan engineer in Västerås, noted a sharp increase in decorations and lights in recent years, describing the current excess as unreasonable. He recommends that visitors choose real stearin candles over cheaper paraffin or palm oil alternatives, as paraffin contributes to carbon dioxide emissions and palm oil is linked to deforestation.

Officials are also advising against plastic decorations and battery-operated light strings, which cannot be composted. At Stockholm's Skogskyrkogården, thousands of grave lights are discarded annually, creating substantial waste despite their aesthetic value during the holiday.