NATURAL OR “GREEN” FUNERALS
shrouds, or caskets; naturally occurring burial markers; and certified natural or green burial grounds (NFDA, 2016). Another trend is natural burial, which does not include any embalming. All parts of the funeral, including the clothing and casket, must be made of materials that are nontoxic and biodegradable. Grave markers must also be naturally occurring and environmentally conscious, so rocks, trees, or flowers may be used as markers rather than the traditional granite or quartz. ● Stone : Thousands of headstones are made from granite and marble, which are quarried using fossil fuels and fuel-intensive processes. ● Water : Traditional cemeteries landscape with gas- powered mowers, synthetic fertilizers, and/or water irrigation systems. Another strong incentive for green burials is the scarcity of land. Farmland and natural areas are under pressure: The amount of U.S. farmland has declined by an estimated one million acres annually due to development. The amount of land purchased for residential and commercial development is increasing at almost three times the rate of population growth (Lynch, 2016). A traditional cemetery buries approximately 1,000 bodies per acre, requiring two square miles for new grave spaces each year. In contrast, a green cemetery normally holds 50 to 100 bodies per acre (GBC, 2007). This low density allows natural cemeteries to restrict burials in ecologically sensitive areas. Drainage spots, streams, dense wooded areas, and restoration areas can be left undisturbed. Land that might be unusable for traditional cemeteries is more likely to be suitable as a location for a natural cemetery. ● Burial can occur in a biodegradable casket, or the body can be covered in a shroud and placed directly in ground. ● No commercially treated, cut, or artificial flowers are used. ● Grave markers are naturally occurring in the environment. A plant, tree, shrub, or rock indigenous to the environment could be used. Funeral directors who are willing to assist in natural funerals may contact the Green Burial Council to be listed as a provider at http://www.greenburialcouncil.org. emotional healing. The home is where life memories and family history are made, so many believe it natural that the end-of-life stage occurs there as well. Home funerals historically were a time when families came together to share memories and celebrate the life of the individual in an authentic and familiar setting. A growing number of individuals living in the U.S. are returning to a hands-on, no-frills experience of death. They follow the body care and preparation steps for natural funerals. Unvarnished wooden or biodegradable boxes replace ornate caskets; viewings are in living rooms; and in some cases, burials occur on personal property, for example, backyards. There is no count of home funerals, but home funeral organizations have won battles in recent years in states such as Minnesota and Utah that attempted
According to the NFDA, green funerals incorporate environmentally friendly options in order to meet the needs of a family requesting a green service. A green funeral may include any or all of the following: A small gathering in a natural setting; use of recycled paper products only; locally grown organic flowers; carpooling; organic food; no embalming or embalming with formaldehyde-free products; the use of sustainable and/or biodegradable clothing, Natural burials More cemeteries and funeral homes, especially those in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, are providing natural burials, and the demand is likely to continue to grow. The movement away from traditional funerals and burials is partly because they are resource intensive. Traditional burials and funerals require many materials, and those materials use an extensive amount of energy. In turn, this translates into a much more expensive funeral. The increased demand for green practices suggests that consumers are happy to reduce their costs and reduce their environmental impact. Some of the resources used for traditional funerals and burials are as follows (Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve, 2015): ● Chemicals : More than 830,000 gallons of embalming fluid, along with ethanol and other chemicals, are used to prepare and preserve bodies buried in the ground. ● Wood : More than 39 million feet of hardwood lumber are used to build caskets each year. ● Steel : More than 90,272 tons of steel are used to make more than 800,000 steel caskets each year. ● Concrete : Cement and metal burial vaults, designed to keep the ground from settling as the casket and body decay, require 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete each year. Natural funerals Natural funeral services may include the following: ● The loved one is cared for, washed, anointed, and dressed in a natural way, maintaining the natural appearance of the loved one and allowing the family to experience the changes that naturally occur after death. ● They may occur at home, in a funeral home, or at another location. ● Essential oils are used to control bacterial activity, and herbs scent the body. ● Dried ice, ice packs, and air-conditioning are used for cooling. ● A funeral director can provide support if the family prefers assistance. Many funeral homes offer assistance for home funerals and burials. Home funerals and burials A home funeral is a family- or community-centered celebration of an individual’s life after their death. The care, visitation, memorial service, and burial are handled in the home environment. The emphasis is generally on minimal, noninvasive, and environmentally friendly care of the deceased in a manner that mirrors their lifestyle. Home funerals allow families and communities to become involved in the process of caring for the deceased, including washing, anointing, and dressing the body; preparing for the visitation or service; and arranging for final disposition— all in keeping with the religious and/or cultural practices of the individual. The control and participation in the care and preparation of the body are believed to help the family and/or community move through their grief and acceptance of death in a positive, meaningful way that promotes
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