Green, even in Death
I’m resisting a “dying to be green” main header
I’ve never really considered death as something that could have a negative impact on our environment. It’s just organic matter returning to its roots, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, one of the most natural processes out there, right?
Well, for the most part, it has been, at least until the adoption of today’s modern death rituals. Now, we embalm with formaldehyde-based solution, bury concrete vaults, and use resin-treated hardwood and chipboard to make coffins. In cremations, formaldehyde, resin, and greenhouse gases are just released into the air, rather than into the ground. With every death, we’re adding a little pollution to our environment and, with almost 7 billion people on the planet, there are lots of people dying. Some stats: Annually, we bury 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete, 827,060 tons of toxic embalming fluid, and 30 million tons of hardwood from caskets. Well, when you put it that way…
For those who would be interested in leaving a more environmentally friendly legacy, there are, as I recently discovered, some options. Eternal Reefs, Inc., for one, uses a mixture of cremated remains and environmentally safe cement to create artificial reefs to memorialize the deceased and provide a home for marine life. A personalized brass plaque marks each reef, so they can be identified during underwater visits. Great Burial Reef (they win the clever name contest) is a similar company that will seal urns of cremated remains permanently within hollow, pre-placed, pre-selected, natural concrete reef units also designed to promote the growth of marine life. The units are clustered off the coast of Sarasota, Florida and, together, make up the “Great Burial Reef”. That’d be one eerie scuba excursion.
There are also options for the more terrestrial folk among us. For example, Creative Coffins makes environmentally sympathetic and certified non-toxic carton-board coffins, each made from unbleached pulp containing at least 60% recycled paper and wood pulp sourced from sustainable forests, suitable for both burials and cremations. As disturbing as it may sound, I think these guys are particularly entertaining, even funny. If you visit their website, which is definitely worth doing, you’ll see what I mean. They say it themselves: “…from the dignified and beautiful to the quirky and humorous.” I find the prospect of being sent off in a six-foot bottle of red wine (which can be viewed in the “Pastimes” category on the website – hilarious) is oddly appealing.
I don’t necessarily have an opinion regarding whether people should opt for a green burial over a traditional one, because death is a difficult and sacred thing. Our desire for a traditional departure or goodbye transcends the desire to do our green deed of the day and, I think, If there’s ever a time to let our green behavior fall by the wayside, the loss of a loved one is probably it. So, when it comes to death, I think it’s reasonable to make considerations other than the effect of coffin resin or something. But for some, maybe going out on a green note is the more dignified way to go anyway. Who knows? The choice is for the individual. Frankly, I’m not sure if I’ll go in a green way or not……but I’ll consider it…
In any case, the options are out there.
