When your time comes, are you worried about the long-lasting environmental impact of a traditional burial, or maybe even the financial hardship it might cause your loved ones?
If you are, you’re not alone – more people than ever are concerned about how their remains will affect the Earth in the long term, how the costs will affect their families, and wondering what they can do about it. This new free guide from Sustainable Farewells can help, if you’re ready to find your own solution, check it out at https://sustainablefarewell.com/why-eco-friendly-burials-are-gaining-popularity/
Traditional Burial Is Hard On The Earth & Your Loved Ones
For centuries our traditional burial techniques have been working, but each year they get a little harder on the environment, and the effects will only continue to worsen. With each new burial we’re adding harsh chemicals like embalming fluid and hard-to-degrade materials from the caskets to the Earth, and there’s more every single year.
These caskets, concrete burial plots, and other end-of-life options can often take hundreds or thousands of years to biodegrade, if they ever do, and they’re not even more affordable to make up for it. In fact, the traditional, more harmful options, are actually a lot more expensive.
Sustainable Options Are Easy
Sustainable burial methods are growing in popularity around the world, making it easier to limit your impact on the environment or even to provide benefits to it, as your last act in this world. If you’re not sure about your options, a good start is the new report from Sustainable Farewells which explores the full range of eco-friendly burial options available today, and what factors you should consider when choosing an environmentally friendly option.
The simplest method explained in the new report is “Green Burial,” which is similar to a traditional burial but with a few minor changes. With this technique the body is kept in as natural of a state as possible, with no embalming fluids or harsh chemicals, and buried in a biodegradable casket or shroud.
This burial method offers several important benefits, aside from eliminating non-biodegradable waste and harsh chemicals. With green burial, remains will be turned into useful nutrients and returned to the environment as quickly as possible, and the costs can be significantly reduced for the remaining family.
While the exact costs can vary widely, it’s estimated that a traditional burial costs up to $5,000 before a funeral. Green burials however, since they use simple, biodegradable materials, can cost as little as $1500.
A Beautiful Resting Place, That’s More Than A Cemetary
Not only do green burials help human remains to break down quickly in the environment, but many cemeteries that offer sustainable options also dedicate at least a portion of their available land to conservation. This can take the form of natural forests, wildlife preserves, or maintaining the ecosystem that already exists naturally in that area.
Using a system that encourages remains to become part of the ecosystem again, these green cemeteries are often considered more visually appealing as a final resting place. However, whether that’s an opinion you share is really up to you, and your loved ones.
Here’s what I suggest, if you’re considering a green burial, why not start by learning more about your options, especially the local ones?
Your first step can be looking for certification by the Green Burial Council, or getting in contact to find local options they may have approved.
An excerpt from the guide explains, “By choosing a green burial, you contribute to the preservation of natural habitats and the protection of local flora and fauna. It’s a beautiful way to ensure that your final resting place is a sanctuary for wildlife.”
Your Final Decisions Count, If You Want Them Too
If you’re interested in a green burial, the best advice is to plan well in advance, as the local laws and regulations can vary widely. After checking the local laws, make sure that your preferences and burial plans are explained to family members, as well as included in a formal plan for funerary wishes.
It’s one thing to decide you want it, and another to plan for it, at least for now.
In the future, I imagine all burials will follow these guidelines, to minimize our impact on the planet, and the cost to our loved ones.
Until then, if this is what you want – make sure you get it in writing.
You can find more information at https://sustainablefarewell.com/why-eco-friendly-burials-are-gaining-popularity/
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