Update: 21 November 2024
Green (natural) Burial
Author: Julie Casper, C. Ac.
The funeral industry is responsible for releasing health-threating toxins into the air and ground water. For those concerned about the environment and seeking something other than a conventional cremation or burial in a cemetery, a ‘Green’ burial may be of interest.
Green Burial is an environmentally friendly burial option, free from the carbon emissions produced through the cremation process. A study by the Cremation Association of North America has found that filtering crematorium fumes has little effect on the toxins released. Gaseous emissions are by far the greatest source of cremation pollution and the only crematorium waste that is regulated. One U.S. study found that in 2005, cremations released 6,600 pounds of mercury into the atmosphere. In addition to harmless compounds such as water vapor (H2O), emissions include the green house gas carbon dioxide (CO2); pollutants and carcinogens carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NO2), and sulfur oxide (SO2); volatile acids such as hydrogen chloride (HCl) and hydrogen fluoride (HF), both of which form during vaporization of plastics or insulation; and mercury (often from dental fillings). Organic compounds such as benzenes, furans and acetone are also emitted and react with HCl and HF under combustion conditions to form polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), both of which are carcinogens. Hg, PCDDs, and PCDFs are of special concern because they are susceptible to bioaccumulation.
Green Burial also uses less land when compared with traditional cemeteries. A green burial takes place in a "green cemetery" or "natural burial ground." Burial vaults and embalming chemicals are not used. A fully biodegradable casket made from sustainable materials is placed directly into the earth where nature is allowed to take its course.
Environmental issues connected with conventional burial.
Each year, 22,500 cemeteries across in the United States alone bury approximately:
- 30 million board feet (70,000 m3) of hardwood caskets
- 90,272 tons of steel caskets
- 14,000 tons of steel vaults
- 2,700 tons of copper and bronze caskets
- 1,636,000 tons of reinforced concrete vaults
- 827,060 US gallons (3,130 m3) of embalming fluid, which usually includes formaldehyde.
Resources
- Earthrise News (first 11 minutes): Environmentalists carving a greener path to the great hereafter.
- Download: Green Burial Council Green Burial Planning Guide
- Natural End - Funeral and Burial Services Map The Natural End Map guides you to natural funeral service providers, end-of-life assistants, cemeteries, and others that offer natural funeral and burial services.
- The Green Burial Council
- New England Green Burial Society
- Green Burial in Massachusetts
- The Natural Burial Company
- Options for Green Burials on the Rise
- Why cremation is not considered a green burial option.
References
- How Funerals Completely Rip Us Off [3 min.] Adam Ruins Everything - truTV
- METALS IN MEDICINE AND THE ENVIRONMENT - Cremation Waste and Toxins
- What type of toxins are released into the atmosphere during the cremation process?
- Natural Burial https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_burial
- Chemical and Engineering News
- Eternally green: New eco-friendly cremations and burials