7 Steps To An Sustainable Cremation Practices

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Cremation is often considered more environmentally friendly than burial. However, if protecting the environment is one of your main concerns, there are several decisions you can make to have a green funeral. 

Skip Embalming 

Embalming a body uses a large amount of formaldehyde that is released in the air when the body is cremated. You can avoid this by skipping the embalming. In some states, you can still have a viewing without embalming if you have your funeral soon after the death. Alternatively, you may opt for a memorial service without a viewing. 

Opt for an Environmentally Friendly Cremation Container 

While you can choose to be cremated in a more traditional casket, opting for a basic box uses fewer resources and also minimizes the toxins released during the cremation process. 

Avoid Transportation of the Remains 

It is more environmentally friendly to avoid transporting a body. If your memorial will be held in a different state, you should look into cremating the remains locally and then transporting only the ashes to the memorial service. 

Consider an Online Memorial 

As opposed to having people travel from far distances for a memorial, consider streaming a local memorial service for out-of-town guests. Additionally, having an online guest book will allow those who cannot travel to feel more involved in the funeral process while creating a virtual space to pay respects to the deceased. 

Scatter Ashes Instead of Storing Them 

While cremated remains take up much less space than a body in a cemetery, columbariums and urns still require resources to build and maintain. Scattering ashes ends an individual's consumption of resources. 

Ask About Green Cremation 

There are two forms of green cremation. Promession is when a body is reduced to small, bio-degradable fragments after freezing with nitroglycerin, and alkaline hydrolysis involves dissolving the body in a heated alkaline bath. Both of these methods of cremation require lower amounts of energy and produce fewer by-products than traditional cremation. Unfortunately, they are not available in most places in the United States. However, asking about them shows there is public interest, which may increase their availability. 

Recycle When Possible 

If the deceased has prosthetics or metal medical devices, it is often possible to recycle them. You should let your funeral home provider know that you are interested in recycling all medical devices. 

With booming urban populations, many people are concerned about the ecological impacts of burial and cremation. If these issues impact your funeral planning process, it is important to discuss your options with your local funeral home. 

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18 June 2020

Saying Goodbye With Grace

Unfortunately, death is an inevitable part of life. Everyone knows this, but the knowledge does not make it easier to handle the passing of a loved one. A good funeral home understands what you are going through and takes steps to make this challenging time easier on you and your family members. From leading a memorial service to hosting a viewing, funeral homes can help you say goodbye with grace. If you would like to learn more about funeral homes and the services they offer, check out the articles on this website. We think you will find them informative and helpful in the most caring of ways.