Eco-friendly Burials Bring Green Funeral Movement to Life

A Natural Way of Going

What seems like just a piece of our primitive history or sounds like something out of a creepy thriller novel, burying a body in the backyard is now actually quite the trendy thing to do. That is, if you are looking for an eco-friendly and/or less costly alternative to the traditional American funeral.

Whether referred to as green burials, natural burials or eco-friendly burials, funeral directors, environmentalists and those contemplating end-of-life plans are considering this a viable option.

Good for the Environment

How are green burials different?

Think about when you bury a beloved family pet under a tree in the backyard!

--They exclude the use of embalming fluids

--Metal caskets and concrete vaults are not used

--Grave is market by rocks or wild flowers

--Graves are shallower

On a recent Fresh Air interview on NPR, Mark Harris, author of Grave Matters: Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial told host Terry Gross that the amount of wood from coffins located in a ten-acre cemetery is enough to build 40 houses and that there is enough concrete to build swimming pools for all of them. He was eluding to the wastefulness of those materials.

Harris also adds that without the embalming fluid, there is no chance of groundwater pollution. Funerls.org states that during the embalming process, some toxic fluids could be released into the sewer system. Furthering pollution he says are the emissions from backhoes, lawnmowers and tree pruners, as well as pesticides getting into ground water.

Another way green burials can be positive is that if simple wooden coffins are used, local artisans could be supported as opposed to long-distance hauling in of caskets from out-of-state manufacturers-eliminating some air pollution. If people are worried about the presentation of a wooden coffin at a wake, funerals.org suggests draping velvet over the casket.