 The choices you make while planning a funeral greatly affect how green a funeral may or may not be. By maintaining an eco-conscious mindset, you can ensure that the funeral you are planning is not only a beautiful commemoration of the life of the deceased, but beneficial to the environment.
It is possible to find alternatives for both small and large details of a funeral. For instance, if you are using programs or any other sort of handouts it is easy and inexpensive to select recycled or newsprint paper. Selecting a non-toxic ink, such as soy ink, is also an easy, inexpensive alternate option. Flower choice can also easily become a green choice. Rather than using fresh cut flowers, opt for either no flowers at all or potted plants. In the event that you do not feel comfortable making a concession on having fresh cut floral arrangements, make sure you purchase organic flowers.
Things such as grave markers can be made green as well. Instead of using a traditional headstone, plant a bush, large plant or a tree instead. The plant, bush or tree is not only aesthetically beautiful, but is often considered to be much more meaningful than a headstone. Instead of sending flowers or other traditional gifts of condolence, consider making a charitable donation instead. You can put it in the name of the deceased or the deceased’s family. This is often a very touching gift and it is much more meaningful than a car or flower arrangement.
When it comes to the actual burial, there are many green options available. First, you must decide what you wish to do with the body. Your first option is cremation. Over the past several years, crematoriums have made an effort to lower their emissions. Despite minor pollution, cremating may be better for the environment than a traditional burial. Should you decide against cremation, you will most likely choose to bury the deceased. With ground burials, the body eventually decomposes into the earth. Many processes that are part of traditional funerals, such as embalming, traditional coffins and concrete vaults, delay this process and cause the absorption of negative chemicals into the earth.
In an attempt to lessen the impact of ground burials, consider alternative options. Select an eco-friendly casket instead of a traditional one. Eco-friendly caskets come in a variety of different materials—cardboard, bamboo, willow, etc. Once you have chosen an eco-friendly casket, take the next step and choose a green burial ground. Green cemeteries are extremely peaceful and not allow the introduction of harsh chemicals within their perimeter. They also have a dual purpose, conserving the land on which they sit from development both now and in the future. Vaults are a somewhat debatable funeral option. The vault is the concrete or metal box that holds the casket once it is lowered into the ground. While the vault protects the casket, it also prevents the ground from settling and delays the absorption of the deceased into the ground. Though many cemeteries have strict rules on whether or not you have to use a vault, there are cemeteries that give you the choice or do not allow them (such as green cemeteries ).
EnviroCitizen.org has found that there are many ways to make a funeral green, and as more time passes and environmental awareness becomes more widespread, additional green funeral alternatives will continue to increase.
|
