Thinking About Having a ‘Green’ Funeral? Here’s What to Know - The New York Times

"The specifics of a green burial vary widely, but typically they require far fewer resources for the care of the body and skip a number of the traditional steps, making them better for the environment. Plus, they can save families on funeral costs. Interest in these pared-down, eco-friendly options has grown as people look for ways to cut their carbon footprint. Nearly 54 percent of Americans are considering a green burial, and 72 percent of cemeteries are reporting an increased demand, according to a survey released earlier this year by the National Funeral Directors Association....Here is what Americans put in the ground each year through traditional burials: 20 million feet of wood, 4.3 million gallons of embalming fluids, 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete, 17,000 tons of copper and bronze, and 64,500 tons of steel, according to the Green Burial Council. Green burials eliminate much of this waste by leaving out almost all of those materials; most bodies are simply wrapped in shrouds made from a biodegradable material like cotton and placed in the ground. And although cremations often have the reputation as being an eco-friendly option, they tend to have an outsize carbon footprint.

... The Green Burial Council’s website has information, a list of providers and additional resources for people interested in green burial. The Order of the Good Death, a collective of funeral professionals, academics and artists, has an informative page about green burials. Looking for a green burial for you and your pet? Visit the Green Pet-Burial Society.




Thinking About Having a ‘Green’ Funeral? Here’s What to Know - The New York Times