Chem321:The Future of Green Funerals

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This is the 2013 paper by Angela Caracci.


There has been a long tradition in the burial or cremation of loved ones, but there are alternatives that show to be more eco-friendly and safer. Traditional burials use chemicals that are both costly and harmful to people and the environment. Cremation may be seen as a better alternative, but the process requires a large amount of energy, as well as emits toxins into the atmosphere. Currently there is one green method for cremation, and three methods that may be used in place of the traditional burials. These include hybrid burials, natural burials, and conservation burials. Green funerals are beneficial because they are cost effective, environmentally friendly, safer for humans, and still maintain the sanctity of honoring death.


The process for a traditional burial is one that is costly, and harmful to people and the environment. This is the most popular choice mainly due to the fact that, these services provides families with a sense of comfort and closure whereas other methods may not provide this. Choosing to do a common burial allows for possible risks to occur. The traditional process of burying the dead involves embalming the body. The chemicals used pose health risks to those involved in preparing the body. “Embalming fluid is usually comprised of the carcinogen chemical formaldehyde, which has been proven to pose health risks in funeral homes. A study by the National Cancer Institute released in late 2009 revealed that funeral directors have a much higher incidence of myeloid leukemia” (Greencouncilburial.Org). Not only do they pose a threat to those in direct contact but these chemicals used in embalming can seep into communities' soil and eventually into groundwater. The next consideration is the materials used for caskets. It is estimated that 9.1 million meters of wood is cut down annually to make caskets. North America uses enough steel in caskets and vaults each year to make a bridge the size of the Golden Gate Bridge. The concrete used to construct burial vaults is enough to build a 535-mile highway. Additional considerations are the energy used to transport the vaults and caskets, and the environmental impact of traditional burial materials as well as the amount of time it takes caskets to decompose in the soil (Scientific American Website). Finally, traditional burials take up many acres of land. That land is stripped of the trees and natural vegetation. This adversely affects the environment. In addition, when that ecosystem is destroyed, the animals that inhabited leave. This too, can negatively affect the environment.


New methods in traditional burials show steps toward becoming more eco-friendly. The use of embalming fluid has been controversial due to its toxic makeup. It is argued that it is important in the preservation of the body and it reduces the spread of disease. The Green Burial Council states that there is no evidence to support such claims. There are now several formaldehyde-free embalming fluids, including one made entirely of nontoxic and biodegradable essential oils, which recently earned the GBC seal of approval. The sanitation and preservation of a corpse can almost always take place without the use of chemicals, as is done in just about every nation in the world -- with the exception of the US, Canada and a half-dozen others (Greencouncilburial.org). While this is a first step in making traditional burials more sustainable, they are still not a good practice because they take up land, are expensive, and use large amounts of resources.


Cremation is largely seen as an alternative to burials. The process of cremation goes as follows: the casket is placed in the cremation chamber, and the temperature is raised to about 1400 degrees to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. After approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours, all organic matter is consumed by heat or evaporation. The remaining bone fragments are known as cremated remains. The cremated remains are then carefully removed from the cremation chamber. Any metal is removed with a magnet. The cremated remains are then processed into fine particles and are placed in a container for the family. The entire process takes approximately three hours (NFDA.org). There are many reasons this method is practiced, from religious beliefs like in countries such as Nepal, to limited amounts of land like in India and China. This may seem like a better alternative, but there are a few considerations to this practice. Cremation uses a large amount of fossil fuels, because the burning process takes so long. It also releases toxic chemicals into the air. “The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency estimated in 2001 that cremations accounted for 32 percent of mercury emissions to the atmosphere in that country and a recent Canadian Study found the problem so serious that it recommended simply that “A crematorium should not be sited close to a neighborhood” (Kornbluth). Cremation may be a better choice than a tradition burial, but it is not the best choice.


There is a newer process of cremation that does not impact the environment as the common practice does. Green cremation is a gentle, eco-friendly alternative to flame-based cremation or casket burials. “It uses the natural process of water and alkalinity (potassium hydroxide) to reduce the body, like flame based cremation, to a basic element of bone ash in the same amount of time as traditional cremation. This process is also known as alkaline hydrolysis or bio-cremation. Alkaline hydrolysis is the natural process a body undergoes after burial, which can take up to 25 years. Green Cremation essentially accelerates this natural process to 2-3 hours in a very quiet, controlled environment” (Greencremation.com). This chemical process uses significantly less energy then the common method. It drastically reduces natural gas and electricity usage, carbon emissions, and is completely mercury free.


Green burials are not a new idea, but they are becoming more popular. “Green burial is a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact that furthers legitimate ecological aims such as the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat”(Greencouncilburial.org). Green burials allow for religious practices, while allowing for preservation of the environment and protection of health. There are three types of current green burials. “Leaves” rate these cemeteries. Hybrid burial grounds receive one leaf, natural burial grounds receive a two leaf rating, and conservation burial grounds receive a three-leaf rating.


The first type of cemetery is a hybrid burial ground. This is also called Low-Impact Burial Grounds. These achieve one leaf GBC certification by, “prohibiting the use of burial vaults, the burial of bodies embalmed with toxic chemicals, and burial containers made from non-biodegradable or toxic materials” (Funeral Consumer Information Society). These are most closely related to the common burial method, except they omit the usage of chemicals that could potentially harm humans or seep into the ground and water. They also allow the use of biodegradable caskets. These caskets do not use any metal and are usually made from sustainably harvested materials. Some examples of these include banana leaf caskets and bamboo coffins, and cost about $800, compared to expensive metal caskets.


The second type of cemetery is a natural burial ground, which receives a two-leaf GBC certification. This type of cemetery requires adherence to all the Low-Impact Burial Ground practices and protocols. It must be, “Designed, operated and maintained to produce a naturalistic appearance based on use of plants and materials native to the region and patterns of landscape derived from and compatible with regional ecosystems” (Greencouncilburial.org). These landscapes may be part of ecological restoration, but for this level of certification complete restoration is not a requirement. At this level the deceased is returned naturally to the earth. The body decomposes and nourishes the native grass, trees, and surrounding plants that the family may choose to plant, or let occur naturally.


Finally, the third type of cemetery is a conservation burial ground. This receives a three-leaf rating by GBC. In addition to meeting all the requirements for a Natural Burial Ground, the facility must further legitimate land conservation. “A Conservation Burial Ground must protect in perpetuity a significant area of land specifically and exclusively designated for conservation. A conservation burial ground must involve an established conservation organization that holds a conservation easement or has in place a deed restriction guaranteeing long-term stewardship” (Funeral Consumer Information Society). Conservation burial uses the burial fees to pay for land acquisition, protection, restoration, and management. Not only does the conservation burial help protect land, but it helps to restore the land to its natural conditions.


Overall a green funeral is the best option to memorialize a loved one. Green cremation is good for a family that wants to physically keep a memory of their loved one. It also provides a significant reduction in the use in energy, and reduced carbon emissions. For those who choose to bury their loved one, all three types of green burials have many benefits to the environment, as well as the families. The burials take place in virtually untouched natural and serene preserved areas. Instead of the deceased being embalmed their remains are wrapped in a biodegradable shroud and buried in a natural casket. In addition, a tree or a flat rock native to the area can mark their resting place. The green cemeteries also act as nature preserves and the families are welcomed back to hike, picnic, and enjoy the surroundings. Many may find this more comforting than visiting or paying respects at a traditional cemetery. Because many of the plots are unmarked in order to preserve the land, there are global positioning systems that map the cemeteries and can be used to locate loved ones. Opting for a green burial not only reduces the overall impact on the environment, but some find it a more pleasant alternative to the more common methods. Many families find solace and feel at ease in more natural settings. When opting for a green burial they are not only contributing to the preservation of land, but they are giving their loved ones a more peaceful place to pay their respects.


Traditional funerals are antiquated and harmful to health and the environment. They release toxins into the atmosphere, are expensive, and are not sustainable. Green funerals reduce environmental impact while preserving the sanctity of life. The burials are affordable, eliminate the exposure to carcinogens, and reduce use of resources such as wood, cement, and land. Green cremations reduce energy and carbon emissions. Overall, green funerals are important for sustainability, because they reduce land use, toxic emissions, and resource use.


Resources:

  • Green Cremation. Retrieved August 05, 2013 from

http://www.greencremation.com/_mgxroot/page_10767.php

  • Eco- Afterlife: Green Burial Options. Retrieved on July 26, 2013 from

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=eco-afterlife-green-buria

Angela.M.Caracci (talk) 23:09, 6 August 2013 (EDT)

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