There is no consensus on whether cremation or burial is a greener choice. The cremation industry claims – directly and through imagery such as the examples above – that cremation is better for the environment. So to recap, in terms of the environmental impact and CO2 emissions then a funeral using a woodland or natural burial site has only two thirds of the CO2 emissions of a cremation only service making the woodland / natural burial ground option a far more environmentally friendly option than a cremation. While others see burial as the worse choice for the environment without using biodegradable items. Burials have been criticized for taking up too much space. Advocates for burial bring up that most crematories operate using natural gas which is a nonrenewable resource. Donate to a charity rather than sending flowers. Cremation vs. Burial: An Overview. Environmental and Public Health Concerns Depending on your personal values, you may want to consider the environmental impact burial and cremation both have. Definitions Cremation is the process whereby human remains are reduced through mechanical, thermal, or other means of dissolution.1 The literal translation of the Latin root cremare is “to burn by fire.”2 Cremation uses flame and heat to reduce remains to bone fragments which are then pulverized in a cremator to the consistency of ashes. Death didn’t use to be such an environmental drag. Deciding between cremation and burial is a very personal decision and one that can be hard for most individuals. Cremation is a popular alternative to burial but it also impacts negatively on the environment. Choose a biodegradable urn (if cremation … Cremation Vs Burial- What are The Differences? Your thoughts on the potential environmental impact of your death. Reassured, an award-winning and FCA registered broker, has put together the below guide to help you with this important decision of cremation vs burial. Cremation has become a more popular alternative to burial. The bottom line: if you’re concerned about the environmental impact of your final disposition, those concerns can be ameliorated regardless of whether you choose burial or cremation… Environmental Concerns. One thing that can make cremation more expensive, however, is what you decide to do with the ashes after the cremation. The negative effects of traditional burial to the environment are more than those of cremation. The year of 2015 marked the first time the cremation rate was higher than the burial … Indeed, there are environmental critiques of burial, which almost always relate to three points: (1) metal caskets use up a tremendous amount of resources to create and then pollute the ground; It’s still debated which is better and whether when a body is cremated it lets off a large number of pollutants. Traditional burials occupy around 10 feet or more of space. Deciding whether to choose cremation vs. burial is an important task when outlining your end-of-life wishes. We’ll explain these in this article, along with the pros and cons of cremations or burials. Natural Burial. It is difficult to see the immediate impact of burial funerals until you analyze the problem from a larger scale. With more and more concerns being raised over the environmental effects of the extermination of dead bodies, many people have started choosing cremation as a more favorable, environmentally safe option. The effects of cremation and burial are of much concern for environmentalists. You can combine the best aspects of both burial and cremation by mixing cremation ashes with a seed to become a beautiful tree. Cremation is a method of final disposition of a dead body through burning ().. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to the burial or interment of an intact dead body. The cremation process can take 2-3 hours from warm-up to incineration and reaches temperatures up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. Environmental Impact. This is due to an array of reasons, but even then, there are few factors to consider when making a decision. ... Burial is a source of environmental contaminants including the casket. In the United States, about 2.7 million people die every year and more than half of them are cremated. The American cremation rate has been steadily on the rise for the past 30 years. “Green burial” is now advocated as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation. However, these are things to keep in mind: Unlike chemicals used to prepare bodies for a burial, the remains from a cremation only contain harmless minerals. On the face of it the funeral rite of burial of a person in a shroud or letting bodies be eaten by vultures may seem to be more eco-friendly than burial in a coffin or crematorium or funeral pyre. Traditional burials use burial vaults that prevent the human body from decomposing, heightening the environmental impact. Before a funeral for a dead person takes place, the body is often embalmed. The environmental factors Burning a dead body results in the release of the carbon dioxide stored in the body and in the fuel. The research has been done on this topic and environmental impact of burial is nowhere on the list. Those against burial argue the issue of land use and what is involved in the perpetual care of a cemetery. If Green Burial is not possible for you but you are interested in reducing your environmental impact during the funeral planning, here are 10 simple things you can do to make a difference: Carpool to any gathering. But burial is also has least impact in terms of pollutants if you opt for no embalming, natural burial site and environmentally friendly coffin. First off, cremations take up less land. Some out there are concerned about the environmental impact of burial and cremation. According to the United States Census Bureau, over 2.4 million Americans die every year. The process of a burial leaves a significant footprint ; the use of embalming fluid, coffin, and tombstone can have adverse effects when buried. While cremation can leave less impact than a burial with a steel casket and concrete vault, it is not without its drawbacks. And, unlike a fire cremation, the carbon footprint is minimal. Yet another environmental concern, of sorts, is that traditional burial takes up a great deal of space. Every action humans take on earth has an impact on the environment, even their death. Continue reading as we compare both options in terms of cost, the process, environmental impact, flexibility, religion and more… ... money is a huge factor in the negative impact that traditional burial has caused by urging the grieving families of the deceased to purchase unnecessary and expensive products and services. Lately, cremation has been winning the battle as the more popular choice. In some countries, including India and Nepal, cremation on an open-air pyre is an ancient tradition. Proponents of cremation say that the materials used in most caskets aren’t biodegradable, plus embalming fluid is harsh on the environment. Comparing cremation and burial from an environmental standpoint is complex. Environmental Impact If the effect on the environment is important to you, consider getting a cremation instead. Cremation has gained popularity over the past few years, and burial is no longer the most popular option. This method benefits the environment, while also giving loved ones a lasting physical remembrance that they can visit. Apart from having a lighter impact on the wallet, cremation will also leave less of an environmental footprint. The diversification of the funeral industry stems from the environmental impact of traditional burial and the rise of cremation. Traditional burial and cremation are both pretty environmentally unfriendly. Cost of a funeral In a traditional burial the body is buried in a casket made from a variety of materials. This can be as little as £1,195 if you go with Beyond. Today many are choosing burial methods that minimize environmental impact. Environmental Considerations. However, cremation is not without an impact on the environment and as a result 'Green Burials' are now looked into as a further alternative. Burial Vs Cremation: Cost Comparison. Beyond cost, religious and cultural reasons are some of the most important factors to consider when deciding between cremation vs burial. Cremation is more environmentally-friendly. The environmental perspective of cremation vs burial. Cremation releases 250,000 tons of CO2 each year, the equivalent of burning nearly 30 million gallons of gasoline. It is therefore important to highlight the effects of each decomposition method on the environment. Environmental Impact of Cremation and Burials. Cremation was popularised in the UK in the late 19th century, pushed on by growing secularism and the Industrial Revolution, but environmental concerns have led … 6. Unlike burial, where a deceased body can be exhumed if needed, cremation is a permanent process. Cremation is often viewed as being a more cost-effective option between the two (burial or cremation), but knowing that all of the same ceremony choices are available to families, there may be little to no difference in the final tally. The choice between cremation or burial is a matter of personal preference. The environmental impact of burial has also shifted public opinions toward cremation. ... Cremation vs Burial Statistics. All in all you get more questions than answers, and I would suggest most people know what they want, but would be keen to reduce the environmental impact of their funeral as much as possible. The environmental impact of cremations and burials is still a contentious subject. https://antitheist-atheist.blogspot.com/2013/09/burialversuscremation.html It has always been an on-going debate: cremation vs. burial. It is generally guided by considerations including the cost of a funeral, environmental impact, practicality and religion. 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