Skip Navigation

Your feedback will help us improve this website.

Article

Margam Crematorium becomes First in Wales to Achieve Gold Environmental Award

12 September 2026

A Crematorium run by Neath Port Talbot Council is the first in Wales to achieve a Gold award for its sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

PICTURED Left to right): Alex Allen, Tracey Banfield, Lee Beasley, Brendon Day and Carolyn Day (from Greener Globe Funeral Standard), Ted Latham (Chair of Margam Crematorium Joint Committee), Steff Newton, Laura Owens (Neath Port Talbot Council Service Manager).

Margam Crematorium has become one of only three sites in the UK to achieve the highest accolade offered by the Greener Globe Funeral Standard (GGFS) – which guides and supports everyone in the funeral sector to improve and review their impact on the environment. 

In order to be considered for the award, entrants must score highly during a Greener Globes Sustainability Audit which reviews the following areas:

  • Organisational Culture
  • Administration
  • Supply Chain
  • Premises
  • Cremation Process
  • Waste
  • Grounds
  • Memorials

 

Set within beautiful grounds near Port Talbot, Margam Crematorium has been serving local families since 1969 and is recognised as a listed building of architectural significance.
 

The crematorium continues to provide a dignified and compassionate service while demonstrating that environmental responsibility can sit alongside excellence in bereavement care.

A key area of focus has been the reduction of gas consumption through the efficient operation of the cremators. It’s also been working with a manufacturer based in Leeds to develop further environmental initiatives for the cremation process, which will benefit crematoria across the UK and beyond.

Director of Greener Globe Funeral Standard, Carolyn Day, said:

“This achievement demonstrates that meaningful environmental progress comes from commitment, collaboration and a determination to continually improve. We are proud to recognise Margam Crematorium and Neath Port Talbot Council with the GGFS Gold Award and congratulate the whole team on this well-deserved success. 

“We look forward to continuing to support them as they build on these achievements and further strengthen their position as leaders in sustainable crematorium management”. 

Chair of Margam Crematorium Joint Committee, Cllr. Ted Latham said:

“It is wonderful to receive this prestigious award which recognises the investment made by the Crematorium and the dedication and commitment of our staff’

Achieving the GGFS Gold Award reflects the dedication and hard work of the entire team who have worked tirelessly to improve environmental performance across the site.

Reacting to the gold award, staff at Margam Crematorium said:
 

“Completing the Trusted Crematorium audit has been a really rewarding project for our crematorium team. It has made us look again at how we operate all aspects of the facility from an environmental perspective.

“We’d also like to thank those who work very hard at the Crematorium but who weren’t present on the day, including Cerys Thomas, Natalie White, Adam Davies, Lee Thomas (Gardener) and Yvonne Taylor (housekeeping).

“We’re all delighted to have come so far on our environmental journey, and we are happy to support any other Welsh crematoria who want to learn from our experience”. 

To find out more, visit: https://www.ggfs.co.uk/ 

Share this on:
Back To Top