Interview with Amanda Kelly, Co-founder, AWAKE, Canada

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Interview with Amanda Kelly, Co-founder, AWAKE; Canada

Amanda Kelly — Co-Founder, AWAKE Amanda Kelly is the co-founder of AWAKE, born from lived experience and an unshakable belief: the way we honour our loved ones should leave the world better, not burden it. After experiencing five profound losses in two years, Amanda began asking a different kind of question—not just how we grieve, but what we leave behind. That inquiry led her to collaborate with world-leading scientists to develop Canada’s only patented soil technology designed specifically for cremated remains. Before founding AWAKE, Amanda led municipal innovation programs across Ontario, working at the intersection of systems change, sustainability, and community impact. Today, she brings that same future-focused lens to an industry rarely challenged to reveal its environmental footprint. You’re most likely to find Amanda walking cemeteries, reimagining legacy, or out hiking with her dogs—grounded in nature, and deeply committed to transforming how we return to it.

United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal(s) addressed:
#11. Sustainable Cities and Communities, #15. Life on Land

Social impact:
The Social Impact — Turning Ashes to Earth Every day, more than 7,000 families across North America receive urns containing the cremated remains of someone they love. Nearly 60% want those ashes returned to nature—yet most don’t realize the unintended harm traditional cremated remains can cause. Research shows cremated remains are toxic to plants and soil, with: -a pH level comparable to bleach -sodium levels equal to two cups of table salt -calcium concentrations 22 times higher than healthy soil AWAKE exists to change that. By working in partnership with cemeteries and funeral homes, AWAKE creates Ashes to Earth™ memorial gardens and planting kits that restore balance rather than disrupt it. Using patented soil chemistry developed alongside global scientists, AWAKE neutralizes cremated remains and converts them into plant-friendly, life-supporting earth. The science targets 22 critical factors, including pH, sodium, macro- and micro-nutrients, and the soil microbiome—ensuring that what is returned to the land can actually nourish it. The impact is both personal and planetary: -16× more land conserved -95% less water used -environmentally positive memorials for families choosing cremation By transforming Ashes to Earth, AWAKE offers families a way to grieve with intention—while helping cemeteries and communities move toward a more sustainable future.

Website: https://www.awakeashes.com

Amanda Kelly, Co-Founder, AWAKE

Note: This conversation is transcribed using AI software, which means the transcription is not perfect. Watch the video or listen to the podcast to hear our guest’s wisdom in her own words. If you want to see more interviews like this, please comment below!

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