Say a Green Good Bye to Mother Earth on Your Final Journey to Heaven

Death they say is a great equalizer i.e. we all go back to the earth, from where we all came. Why not use something made from nature in our last journey to the grave rather than building up a pile of toxic waste that would make earth a little less habitable. Keeping this concept in mind a lot of people are opting for a green burial alternative.

Let us dive deep into the process and concept of green burial.

What is Green Burial?

Green Burial is an alternative to normal burial where environmental friendly caskets or shrouds are used for burying the body, which undergoes the natural process of decomposing without leaving any harmful elements in nature. The caskets used for green burial are made from bio-degradable products including the adhesives and paints. Most funeral home services accept biodegradable caskets made from bamboo, wicker and cardboard like any normal casket.

Types of Green Burial Cemetery

A green burial is usually accepted by any traditional cemetery. However there are two other options known as hybrid burial grounds and natural burial grounds which are specifically dedicated for green burial purposes. In these cemeteries members of the staff impose strict restriction regarding environmental pollution while conducting the funeral services. Special attention is paid to ensure disturbance is not caused to the natural preserves meant for wild life.

Few Green Funeral Tips

• When you are planning to host a green burial service, do not consider the option of embalming your loved ones body. Most green burial grounds do not accept embalmed dead bodies.

• If you are concerned about the growing pollution in our environment and want to leave behind green footprint, it is important that you talk to your loved ones about the kind of burial, that you would like.  If necessary mention this clause specifically in your will.

• Even if you opt for a green burial service, you would still occupy a piece of land, and a tombstone made from concrete would be placed over the ground, which might defeat your purpose to a certain extent.

A better alternative to direct funeral services is opting for cremation services. Burning a body surely creates some pollution, but most crematoriums in USA have filters which can absorb the toxic gases and prevent them from being released into the environment. You can later on bury the remains of your loved ones which would require significantly less amount of space and time to decompose or wear them as mementos in the form of jewelry.

The concept of green burial is an altogether new concept and indeed a very noble one. It is a great way to make a difference literally from the coffin.