Passages International Expands Company with the Opening of New East Coast Distribution Center
The Leader in Eco-Friendly Funeral Products Opens a Facility in Somerset, New Jersey
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Passages International, leading provider of biodegradable and non-traditional funeral goods, has opened a new facility in Somerset, New Jersey. This new location will work in tandem with the Albuquerque, NM headquarters to provide quick delivery of eco-friendly funeral caskets and urns to the majority of the continental US at a reasonable cost.
Funeral home customers within 50 miles of Somerset, NJ will enjoy another benefit: Adult caskets needed urgently (within 3 days) will be delivered by a Passages employee, and for a limited time Passages will offer this service free of charge.*
While most industries have already embraced green ideals, the funeral industry tends to lean more traditional and is just now at the tipping point of embracing eco-friendliness at a mass-market level. In the last decade, the cremation rate hit and surpassed the 50% mark, signaling a massive shift in the industry. The generations that popularized sustainable business practices are now at the age where they are thinking about funerals for themselves or their loved ones. Funerals are a major event in our lives, and naturally these generations are bringing their ideals into their funeral planning.
Natural burials and other green funeral options continue to rise in popularity across the country. Given the time sensitive nature of the funeral industry and the rapidly increasing interest in non-traditional funerals, Passages is committed to ensuring green cremation urns and caskets are readily available for funeral homes. This addition will most benefit funeral homes east of the Mississippi.
In addition to the more than 20 staff employed in Albuquerque, NM, Passages International plans to employ an additional four employees at the New Jersey warehouse.
“It’s exciting to see interest in greener funeral options take root all across the country. Not too long ago there were smaller pockets of availability, but today people everywhere want green options.” says Darren Crouch, president of Passages International. “This location will help us make green options more accessible to a large portion of the country.”
With green and non-traditional funeral options increasingly becoming more mainstream, funeral professionals at even the most traditional funeral homes need to be ready to serve these families. This new distribution center will help families across the country create the non-traditional funeral that best fits their values, without high delivery fees and risk of damage or delay.
*Some restrictions may apply.
About Passages International
Started in 1999, Passages International, Inc. has led the green sector of the funeral industry for more than 20 years, with the largest selection of innovative, biodegradable, and environmentally-friendly urns, caskets, and memorial products. For more information on Passages products or Fair Trade, visit www.passagesinternational.com.
