How Is the Environment Related to Cremation?

Upon the passing of a loved one, decisions for burial can often be a strenuous process. Many families debate between traditional casket burials and cremation, often unsure which would be best to properly honor the recently deceased. There are endless factors to consider from individual preferences to environmental impact. Recent studies have even shown a rise in those who choose to cremate with hopes of being more eco-friendly.

While cremation is less impactful than traditional burial, it isn’t necessarily always environmentally-friendly. Thankfully, new options for eco-friendly cremation have become available for those looking to give back to our Mother Earth. Here are just a few ways that the environment is related to cremation.

Traditional burial

The traditional funeral consists of laying a loved one to rest in one of many casket options from basic wood to ornate metal. Before the burial takes place, the recently departed will be embalmed and given cosmetic preparations for viewing and final goodbyes. Once at the cemetery, the casket is lowered into the ground as a final resting place. Naturally, these actions have long-term effects on the environment.

Embalming is the process of replacing the blood in the body with a cocktail of chemicals, including formaldehyde, methanol, glycerin, and phenol. This slows the natural process of decay in order to keep the body preserved for funeral viewings, transport to a final resting place, or scientific studies. Each of these chemicals has dangerous effects on the body in the event of prolonged exposure and can seep into surrounding soil and air. Studies have found that, in the US alone, over 800,000 gallons of formaldehyde is put into the ground each year.

Standard wooden caskets are often the favored choice for burial, using enough wood each year to fill 4 million acres of forest. This level of deforestation is detrimental to preservation. Other caskets are estimated to use over 2,700 tons of bronze and copper, 1,636,000 tons of concrete, and 104, 272 tons of steel in the US every year.

The ever-growing cemeteries in the US are kept in aesthetic conditions with the use of excessive amounts of water, pesticides, and hazardous fertilizers. In order to keep the property looking pristine for the loved ones of the deceased, cemeteries use products that are harmful to local wildlife, animals, and local water supplies.

Cremation

Cremation is rising rapidly in popularity. During cremation, the body is exposed to intense heat, flames, and evaporation. This process results in a collection of basic elements that are ground into ashes to be placed in an urn or other container chosen and provided by family. While some choose to keep remains on a mantle or other place of honor, many will scatter ashes or bury them in a sentimental location. In these instances, the ashes can release sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, mercury emissions, and other dangerous chemicals into the air. The ashes placed in or around the ground give no nutrients to the surrounding earth as they do in natural decomposition.

Alternatives

More than 50% of American burials are done through the process of cremation with numbers steadily rising. Fortunately, there are options for those who still wish to pursue this method of burial but want to remain environmentally conscious. Eco-friendly cremations are done without the use of harmful chemicals and with eco-friendly caskets.

Urns can also be purchased that are made of biodegradable materials such as rock salts and sustainable papers. Bio-cremation is another alternative on the rise in the US and uses water, pressure, heat, and potassium hydroxide in order to reduce the body to a white ash. These ashes produce drastically less carbon dioxide than traditional methods, use less energy, and do not emit dangerous emissions into the environment. While this option is limited in availability, it is the hope of green burial advocates to expand throughout other parts of the US.