One of the things we never want to think about is when a loved one passes. However, it is best to be prepared for that time because there will be a lot to process. One, for instance, is if you should consider a natural burial or cremation. This decision might have been made for you per the will of your loved one, but if not, there are reasons to investigate the options available to you.
Cremation has long been thought to be more eco-friendly than burial. While this is true for traditional burial methods, cremation still leaves a footprint. For instance, fuel is used for the burning process, which is not the most eco-friendly.
Here, we'll look at alternative options to cremation and traditional burials.
Burial or cremation?
There are pros and cons regarding the environmental impact of burial and cremation, as neither is 100% safe for the environment. When making your decision, you should consider the environmental impact of both choices.
One of the apparent reasons that burial is bad for the environment is the amount of land it takes up. Each burial takes up at least a six-foot plot of land. The average number of deaths per year in the United States is 2.5 million. Even if just a fraction of people chose burial, a lot of land is being used. You have to consider the other resources as well. The caskets are made of wood, and concrete is used for the foundation of the grave.
Another thing to consider is the embalming fluid used in the process. Though this has been a tradition throughout the years, it is quite harmful to the environment. The chemicals that make up embalming fluid are quite toxic, and once you bury them in the ground, they find their way into the soil and even into the air.
For these reasons, people have long thought cremation was the more environmentally safe option. While it doesn't require as much land, there are still drawbacks to this practice. The amount of heat needed for the process uses up quite a bit of fossil fuel. Cremation can also release toxins into the air from the body of the deceased.
The other thing to consider with cremation is the damage you can do when you spread the ashes. You will want to make sure to do it as evenly as possible to avoid blocking plants from much-needed sunlight and nutrients.
To avoid these environmental drawbacks, maybe you should consider natural burial instead.
Natural burials
Organic burial pods are a great option, especially if your passed loved one was a nature lover. If you've ever wondered how to be buried as a tree, this is the way to do it. Organic burial pods can be used both for a traditional burial or a cremation.
The way it works is as simple as it is smart. A body or ashes are placed in biodegradable caskets or shells and then buried in the ground. Once the shell breaks down, nutrients are released into the soil, which will aid in the tree's growth.
For those who prefer cremation, there is also a product called Bio Urn. With the Bio Urn, you choose what type of tree you would like to grow once the urn decomposes and saturates the soil with nutrients.
Using green caskets may be a good option as well. It is a relatively new practice but gaining in popularity. This process is legal in the United States; however, you will want to make sure that you check local laws before going through with a natural burial, as there are different requirements for a natural burial per region.
How you choose to honor your loved one is entirely up to you, but if you've been thinking of the environmental impact of theirs or even your own death, then you may want to consider a natural burial.
Once you've decided on your method of burial, we would love to be the next step in your process by providing quality vehicles for your processional. If you are to that stage in your journey, contact Shields Professional Vehicles today