Burial services become helpful for those who are mourning. You have the conventional burial and the modern one known as cremation. People can pick green services and burial to become sustainable. These people are choosing green as they are concerned about the environment. It made them decide to have a green burial over one that uses chemicals.
Green burial means
A conventional burial includes:
-
- an embalmed body
- a casket made of metal or hardwood
- a concrete vault deep in the ground
It is a conventional burial they have seen when thinking of a funeral for the many.
Green burials are a choice of people who envision a different type of return to this world. It is a more natural burial, an eco-friendly approach to death care. It prioritized placing the body directly back in the ground using biodegradable materials. This burial method is not only a new method. It is a return to how humans buried their dead for generations.
Green burials are a time-honored tradition that offers a modern solution when seeking a simple, Earth-friendly end.
What makes it a sustainable burial?
The basic elements to ensure the burial is classed as green are to remove all negative environmental impacts. It means not having the body embalmed. It only uses a biodegradable burial container. Burial vaults are used to protect the landscape and it does not cause environmental damage.
Green services burial
A green service burial is minimizing the carbon footprint of the funeral. It avoids:
- embalming
- cremation
It is a type of burial that uses no chemicals that can harm the environment. The body is buried in a biodegradable container, such as:
- a shroud
- a coffin made of natural materials
These funerals take place in natural burial grounds or cemeteries. It sometimes comes with simple markers, such as:
- plants
- trees
Its aim is for the body to return to the earth naturally. No using of chemicals, everything is prepared naturally.
How are green services burial prepared?
A green funeral is a precise decision to choose the following:
- procedures
- services
- products
Green service burial limits pollution and the use of harsh chemicals. The human remains are not preserved with chemicals, such as:
- formaldehyde
- ethanol
- bleach
Caskets or alternative containers are not constructed with:
- toxic glues
- varnishes
- modern hardware
The remains are buried in an environment that has considerably less negative impact on the environment.
How is the process of this burial performed?
An eco-friendly burial consists of a traditional funeral service or a small private service, honoring the deceased. Here is the process of how the body is prepared for the burial:
- The remains are not embalmed.
- The body is washed and clothed.
- The body is prepared for viewing by close family members.
- Viewing of the dead body may be after a short period of time from the time of death.
- No visitation in a public place is recommended.
- The dead body has no chemical preservation.
- The body is placed in a biodegradable container.
- The casket is constructed or finished using:
- toxic glues
- varnishes
- lacquers
The place where the body is buried has an impact on the environment. The cemetery requires a casket placed in a cement liner if the body is to be buried in the cemetery. It prevents the ground from collapsing above the graves. An unintentional disinterment of remains is avoided due to:
- floods
- erosion
- human error
It could be that the cement contains iron and other minerals entering the soil. It will degrade and break down.
Conclusion
Certified green cemeteries are not requiring vaults or grave liners. They never use pesticides to maintain the grounds. A green memorial has no embalming. They are using a biodegradable wood casket. Many people choose going green over those using harsh chemicals.