Connecting The Dots Project
What you didn’t know about Green Burial
*A warning, this post may be a bit morbid to some readers so if you are not in the mood of reading about burials and cemeteries, please skip the story.
Green Burial is an eco-friendly and sustainable approach to laying the deceased to rest. It involves using biodegradable materials like shrouds or eco-friendly caskets, avoiding embalming and burial vaults, and allowing the body to decompose naturally. It aims to minimize the environmental impact of traditional burial methods and create a more natural and environmentally responsible way of handling human remains.
Q: What are the environmental impacts of cremation and lawn burial with a vault?
A: Even though the carbon footprint would depend on the details of the types of materials such as the type of casket or the technology of the cremation site, cremation typically requires fewer resources compared to conventional lawn burial with a vault, as it does not involve the use of large amounts of land, concrete vaults, or metal caskets. Cremation does have an environmental impact and can generate pollution. The process involves burning fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases and contribute to air pollution. Additionally, cremation can emit mercury from dental amalgam fillings, which poses environmental concerns. While cremation is generally considered to have a lower environmental impact compared to traditional burial with embalming and burial vaults, it is not entirely free of environmental consequences.
Q: Isn’t a concrete vault for the conventional lawn burial considered green?
A: Concrete and metal vaults may be seen as "natural" by some, but their manufacturing and transportation contribute to significant energy use and carbon emissions. No state or province legally requires vault purchase; it's at the discretion of individual cemeteries.
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Q: How does one mark the actual green burial spot?
A: Ideally by GPS.
Q: What is the environmental concern with embalming?
A: Embalming fluid typically consists of the carcinogenic compound formaldehyde.
Q: Are there replacements for embalming fluid which are eco-friendly?
A: Various formaldehyde-free embalming fluids are available, and among them is one entirely made of nontoxic and biodegradable essential oils. This particular fluid has recently received the GBC seal of approval.
Q: Would the lot be reused?
A: According to Green Burial Council, Green cemeteries have the option to reuse burial plots in the future if desired, similar to practices in many countries where graves are routinely "rented" and later refilled, sometimes transferring the bones to an ossuary. There are no legal restrictions against plot reuse in green burial cemeteries.
Q: What happens to the burial during the winter in the cold regions?
A: Burial in winter is possible depending on the frost levels and the preparation of the gravesite. Cold climates offer various methods for snow removal and thawing the ground, such as using coal fires, heaters, or thermal blankets. In some cases, graves can be dug in advance and filled with straw, compost, or other organic material, then capped for easy removal when needed.