Words by Abi Scaife
The Corporate Cause section in the Smiley Charity Film Awards is a chance for businesses to demonstrate how they’re giving back. It’s a hugely important and impactful category, allowing us to celebrate their partnerships with charities and causes that benefit our world.
Ahead of the Smiley Charity Film Awards, Smiley News caught up with Aura Murillo & Louise Skajem, the founders of one of our finalists, Resting Reef, and learned more about what they are doing.
Resting Reef is a new, meaningful way to commemorate the lives of your loved ones after they pass away, which is better for the environment than what we do currently.
It all started as a creative response to two large problems: polluting burial and funeral practices that feel outdated, as well as severely threatened marine habitats. We both are personally invested in the cause and have therefore dedicated the past 2.5 years to building and growing Resting Reef.
An eco-friendly alternative to burial, Resting Reef uses the ashes left behind from cremation or aquamation, mixes them with crushed oyster shells, and turns them into a reef structure. These can then go on to help restore our coral reefs and become homes for marine life.
Most restoration initiatives are underfunded because they depend mainly on donations and public funding. We are building a sustainable business model that channels funds to these restoration efforts at the same time we provide meaningful legacies to people. In this way, we are making a positive impact on people and the planet.
Current burial practices lead to unsustainable consumption of urban land - as well as other issues created by the use of pesticides and other maintenance chemicals, and the need for a huge amount of water. Resting Reef is a sustainable alternative to this - and one that helps to create life, as well as celebrating it.
The best approach is to empower the local community to take ownership of the initiative and find sustainable solutions. We also ensure our business aims to be environmentally, financially, and socially sustainable in all aspects we operate internally and externally.
All quotes can be attributed to Aura Murillo & Louise Skajem, founders of Resting Reef.
Resting Reef’s video for the Smiley Charity Film Awards can be seen here. You can find out more about Resting Reef on their website.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
The New Normal. This charity is a completely free alternative to one-on-one therapy. Changing the way we discuss our grief, mental health and well-being in open and honest spaces.
The Canal & Rivers Trust. The Rivers Trust are conservation experts who work to create wild, healthy, natural rivers. Support them here.
The Ocean Conservation Trust. A charity of Ocean optimists taking action to protect and restore nature for a thriving Ocean. Find out more here.
