need to be washed and kept cool to slow decomposition; if the time before burial is less than 24 hours, cold air
conditioning may be enough; but for longer periods, cooling gels packs can be placed under the body. ● Consult books available to guide the home funeral process.
Trends in green funeral resources Green funerals attempt to minimize resource consumption, practices associated with forest destruction, and unhealthy effects on the planet and workers, such as mainstream high- volume flower production. To address these problems, products can be certified as fair trade or environmentally neutral. Forest certification was launched in the twenty-first century to help protect forests from destructive logging practices. Like the “organic” sticker on produce, forest certification was intended as a seal of approval and as a means of notifying consumers that a wood or paper product comes from forests managed in accordance with strict environmental and social standards. Because flowers must enter the U.S. pes -free, farmers often saturate flowers with pesticides and other chemicals, many of which are banned or restricted in the U.S. Unfortunately, flower imports are not inspected for pesticide residues because they are not food products. As a result, these chemicals enter the soil, blow across landscapes, and enter the air via evaporation. Once chemicals leak into groundwater and soil, they can enter ecological food chains. They can also adversely affect pollinators, including bees. Organic and local flower growers reduce the carbon and chemical footprint of flowers but tend to cost more than noncertified bouquets because the cost of growing them is higher. Premiums are often added for community development projects in flower farming communities. While organic flowers Product sales associated with green funerals Green funerals and burials typically require a number of products whose sales are growing along with the green demand. This trend is likely to continue, with merchandising becoming an increasingly important part of overall sales. The Green Burial Council sets product certification standards that include the following: ● All GBC-approved caskets, urns, and shrouds must be constructed from recycled, reclaimed, or renewable materials that are biodegradable. They can also be made Trends in green product manufacture and sales More companies and individuals are undertaking for the industrialized funeral sector what organic farmers and food producers accomplished for the agricultural arena, that is, meeting consumer demand for alternatives that challenge conventional practices that may have a detrimental environmental impact. These natural grave products are stimulating a renaissance in the weaving arts, with handcrafted and recycled paper and alternative fibers being made into caskets and coffins. Artists fashion willow, bamboo, sea grass, Natural cemeteries Given the increase in individuals requesting natural burials, the need for natural grounds to accommodate these requests will also increase. Creating natural burial grounds is also a way to address limited burial space and increase open space with recreational vegetative areas. The United Kingdom (UK), for example, utilizes natural burial sites to reestablish the countryside with woodlands and grassy meadows. In the next few decades, green cemeteries will provide a unique opportunity to mix commercial use and land conservation. Sites that had previous uses, for example, quarries or industrial sites, may be rehabilitated to some extent, and traditional cemeteries with undeveloped land may open to green burials. Natural grounds do not allow embalming chemicals, metal caskets, or reinforced cement with the body. Like natural burials, the goal is to use as few resources as possible to allow the body to decompose quickly. According to funeral
are not necessarily fair trade, and vice versa, these two green attributes help protect the health and livelihood of flower farmers. Buying organic means purchasing a product that has not been treated with pesticides or other chemicals, which eliminates a major threat to the health of farmers and workers. Fair trade ensures that farmers are adequately compensated for their product and guarantees humane labor conditions, which often include chemical-free growing conditions. More people are choosing organic and/or fair trade flowers or flower alternatives, although only 20% of flowers sold in the U.S. are certified as eco-friendly and/or socially responsible (Flower Review, 2014). Natural funerals may also try to cut down on transportation resources by reducing the number of cars in a funeral procession or by using hybrid vehicles. Funerals with graveside services might rent passenger vans or arrange for families to carpool to reduce carbon emissions. There are even green limousines and car services for funeral cortèges, which can avoid some carbon emissions. Green cars, limousines, and shuttle services can be hybrids, or they can use biodiesel or compressed natural gas (CNG). Having the memorial-related locations contained to a small geographic area also cuts down on transportation costs and the use of resources. Often, good planning will allow a green funeral to maximize efficiency and minimize waste. of material that has been harvested in an environmentally friendly manner. ● Finishes and adhesives cannot contain plastics, acrylics, or synthetic polymeric materials, and they cannot release toxic byproducts. ● Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation of materials at any point in the manufacturing chain must be offset through a recognized program (GBC, 2016). and fibers into woven containers and sew fabric shrouds of organic cotton, silk, and hemp. Each year, more natural versions of traditional funeral goods appear. While eco-friendly supplies for burial were previously sourced from outside the U.S., more U.S. manufacturers are now taking part. Purchasing simple wooden caskets and fabric shrouds not only supports local businesses but also reduces the need for fossil fuels in shipping heavy metal and wooden caskets. researcher Sara Marsden-Ille (2020), “There are approximately 166 registered green burial cemeteries and memorial woodlands in the U.S. These are recognized natural burial sites, although some are hybrid cemeteries where both natural and traditional burials take place. A green burial cemetery is also sometimes called an eco-cemetery.” Since 2005, the Green Burial Council has certified green cemeteries and funeral homes that follow their guidelines, and many more locations are offering natural or green burial options without certification. While different cemeteries have different standards for what they will allow to be buried with the body, minimum green burial standards typically require: ● No embalming fluids. ● Biodegradable casket that is not made of endangered tropical wood. ● No vault.
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