Cremation and the Environment

I know that death and funerals are a subject of “taboo” in our society and many people avoid discussing them, but this topic might be of interest to some. The other day I was at the coffee shop having a normal conversation with my friend Mark, about the environment and “green” lifestyles and choices, when out of the blue he said that it is better for the environment to get cremated as opposed to buried in the ground. So of course I asked, “Is cremation really good for the earth? What about the smoke and the carbon dioxide and all the gases used in the furnace?” After a little research I was surprised to find out that there is a lot of debate about whether cremation is more ecologically friendly than traditional burial. When all the information and facts are added together, I think that Mark was right. Whatever choice you make, make sure it is what the deceased wanted and that it ends up being a beautiful celebration of life.

Pollution from Traditional Burials
Traditional burial spots take up a huge amount of space (many areas in Europe and Japan have simply run out of space to bury the deceased and it is really hard and very expensive to find traditional funeral plots). In addition the fluids used to embalm a body contain arsenic, mercury, and formaldehyde, which are all toxic. Casket manufactures are listed on the EPA’s top 50 hazardous waste generators because they use chemicals such as methyl and xylene to make a protective layer on the casket.

Due to the need to upkeep and preserve the burial grounds, traditional burial is a more labor and resource intensive process. One also has to consider the exhaust used by the truck that digs the grave, the mower used to upkeep the grounds, the chemicals and exhaust released from the equipment used to make the caskets, etc.

Most of the issues discussed above are issues that we (society), can and will find ways to improve the process and make traditional burial more environmentally friendly. For example, many people are choosing to use more environmentally friendly caskets. Others are refraining from embalming their loved ones and having the burial shortly after death. The one problem that cannot be fixed (except if you choose cremation) is the amount of earth and ground used in burial plots.

Pollution from Cremation
Cremation relies on finite fossil fuel reserves and creates emissions that pollute the environment. Cremation releases nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and dioxide, hydrochloric acid (HF), hydrofluoric acid (HCL), sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, mercury and other heavy metals into our atmosphere. As with most modern technology, natural-gas equipment used to cremate a body is becoming more efficient and burning cleaner, but not every place uses these more eco-friendly chambers.

Most of the air pollution is caused by the burning of the casket, which more times than not contain high quantities of toxic glues and plastic handles. Just like with traditional burials, a casket made from all natural materials (with removable handles) is certainly a good environmental choice and can dramatically reduce the amount of air emissions produced. SOME crematorium manufactures have built computerized control systems that regulate the exhaust systems to reduce the amount of air pollution. Also SOME crematoria’s remove all plastic handles and fittings from a coffin before cremation.

It is certainly good that some of these crematoria's are taking the right step in protecting (or at least not damaging) the environment, however it is still not the norm. Even when factoring in the air pollution released during cremation many "green" experts agree that cremation is better for the environment than traditional burials.

An Economic Perspective
In most cases cremation costs significantly less than a traditional burial service. It is even less expensive if the cremation occurs shortly after death without any sort of formal services. While traditional burials are still the most popular, the trend towards cremation is increasing. One reason may be due to the economic crisis we face and families who are affected by it are looking at cremation as a less costly way to honor their loved ones. This might be a twisted look at “saving money and the environment” but it is the truth. Whatever the choice, make sure it is what the deceased wanted and that it ends up being a beautiful celebration of their life.

What to do with your remains
This is an interesting thing to think about if you want to be cremated. I have not done all the research to verify that it helps the environment but it is a great plan if it does.

Memorial reefs, also know as “reef balls.” There is a company (Eternal Reefs) that has developed a process that mixes the cremated remains with liquid concrete and pours it into a mold to create a ball. The reef ball (along with many other reef balls) creates an artificial reef that provides health and home for sea life.

It only takes a few months for the artificial reef to look like a natural reef and only a few weeks before life begins to flourish. They provide you with the exact location of where the reef is (latitude and longitude coordinates) so you can visit by boat and even scuba dive to your loved ones memorial.

Memorial reef balls cost between $2,495 and $6,495, which is not including the cost of cremation.

Written by Alicia http://www.greengardenecology.com/