A funeral is usually your last chance to leave your mark on the world, so why not make it an eco-friendly one? Green funerals are becoming ever more popular. Here’s what you need to know for planning your green service.
What Is An Eco-Friendly Funeral?
There’s no one way to plan a green funeral, but the goal is always the same. Eco-friendly services aim to reduce their impact on the environment as much as possible, whether by using sustainable resources or by reducing the relative carbon footprint of the event. Many of the elements, such as natural burials, have been around since the first pioneers of America.
Why Is This Important?
For those not yet familiar with the concept of a green burial, it can be surprising just how much a toll a regular service can take on the environment. Take a tombstone, for instance, as these are made from unsustainable resources such as marble or stone. Once you add in transport costs, you’re only increasing your carbon footprint. The rise in green funerals has seen a decrease in the need for wooden and metal caskets. So much so, in fact, the metal needed to meet casket demand has almost halved.
What Happens To The Body?
Typically, funeral service providers embalm the body, but this is seldom the case with green alternatives. Many people do not want their body to lie in the ground unused, preserved by various chemicals and toxins. Instead, they are buried as they are with a biodegradable casket so that their remains are used by the earth over time. In fact, many are forgoing burials altogether. A 2014 study by the National Funeral Directors Association concluded that 46.7% of funerals that year involved cremation, with estimates that this figure will rise to 71% by 2030. Cremations offer many green benefits, such as not taking up land space and, of course, carbon-heavy ashes.
What Marker Is Left Behind?
As mentioned already, tombstones are not very green. Although the traditional marker of choice, a survey by the Green Burial Council found they’re the least popular choice for eco-friendly ceremonies. Alternatives include planting a tree, a bench, wooden marker, or even natural stones. There’s also a shift away from grand structures such as mausoleums. This also applies to cremations, too, as you can leave a marker or memorial wall if you wish. As for the urn itself, there are many bio-urns available, in case you want to plant a tree or bush. Similarly, if you’re planning on having your ashes scattered, why spend money on an expensive urn? Like caskets, urns often utilize natural resources such as marble or metal, which are hard to replace.
What Are The Personal Benefits?
There are, arguably, two main benefits to green funerals. The first is that an environmentally conscious approach offers peace in one’s final moments, ensuring their last act isn’t selfish. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly for funeral planners, there are many cost saving features. Cremations don’t cost as much as funerals. The NFDA estimates cremations cost an average of $6,078 compared to $7,181 for a burial service, and when you cut out the costs of embalming ($659), casket (over $2000, if made of metal) and other surplus features, you can generally cut down on quite a large amount of expenditure. Further cuts can always be made by using local suppliers for flowers, food, and more. Not only will this help bring down costs, it also boosts the local businesses and economy!
It’s clear to see why eco-friendly funerals are the greenest trend in the industry right now. Aside from saving the bereaved money, these services enable people to ensure their last goodbyes help the environment. For many, it may prove comforting to know a loved one’s final moments are being used to help the world.