Environmentally Friendly Funerals

A Brief Guide To The Latest Memorial Developments

In the wake of increased concern over making everything else environmentally friendly, many are now also considering what environmentally friendly funerals entail. Here is a summary of some of the latest developments in the memorial industry that are becoming more and more popular with those concerned about environmental issues.

Environmentally friendly funerals are a fairly new concept, for which there is admittedly still much yet to be learned, as widespread interest in them has only been around for the last 3 few years. However, there are a few key components that are generally agreed upon by most proponents of the movement. Much of an environmentally friendly funeral can resemble other funerals, however, when it comes to the casket, biodegradability is king. Many proponents of environmentally friendly funerals believe that wooden or cardboard caskets are preferable to steel, as this reduce the chance of releasing harmful chemicals, such as methane into the ground. The shrouds are generally made out of jute or wool, which are both likely to disintegrate quickly when buried.

In contrast to tradition, proponents of environmentally friendly funerals say that the quicker a body can degrade the better, as it can provide vital nutrients to the ground underneath, a way of giving thanks to the earth that gave so much to them during their lifetimes. This is certainly a change from past attitudes which held that a burial should aim to preserve a body for as long as possible. Some cemeteries, such as the Natural Death Centre in London now only allow environmentally friendly funerals. Along these lines, a method being tested by proponents of environmentally friendly funerals in Sweden is known as “promession.” This would freeze the body in liquid nitrogen, and then smash it with an ultrasonic wave. This would cause pollutant materials to be removed from the body, and would seem to give it a head start on degrading, before it is even buried.

In India, efforts are being made by proponents of environmentally friendly funerals that effectively mesh awareness with tradition. In the predominate Hindu faith, it is a longstanding tradition to burn the remains of the deceased in a funeral pyre. Advocates of environmentally friendly funerals are trying to find ways to decrease the carbon emissions from these fires. One idea that has emerged is to have a raised pyre, instead of placing the logs on the ground. It has been estimated by environmentally friendly funeral supporters that this would reduce the amount of carbon that comes from them by 50%.

Supporters of environmentally friendly funerals are also beginning to make their way into the United States, as environmentally friendly cemeteries can be found near Ithaca, New York, El Granada, California, Kansas City, Missouri, and even Huntsville, Texas.

In tandem with a conviction that biodegradable is better, there is a growing concern among proponents of environmentally friendly funerals over how typical headstones are made. Many headstones are made from granite or marble, however, since these are mass produced, it often means removing large amounts of these materials from the ground. A number of alternatives to this have been provided by proponents of environmentally friendly funerals. These include headstones made out of wood and bamboo, and others made from composite plant materials. Those who opt for wood and bamboo expect that their headstones are likely to biodegrade easily. That is however, part of the plan. Environmentally friendly funeral proponents who choose headstones made from composite plant materials however expect that their headstones will be beautiful and strong, an expectation that is sure not to be disappointed. These headstones, which come in a number of different colors, such as pearl blue, dark green, black, and many other colors, also have centers reminiscent of stained glass windows.

In the end, supporters of environmentally friendly funerals also say that they might be the most affordable kind of funerals. Many of the movement’s supporters also practice cremation, which can be remarkably more affordable than burial, and some are in favor of simple home funerals, perhaps spreading your loved one’s ashes across the back yard, where they no doubt spent a great many hours. It would seem that environmentally friendly funerals could perhaps save one as much as several thousand dollars of expenses. The frugality of this would seem to concur with a central belief among almost all advocates of environmentally friendly funerals, that the simplest way is usually the best way.