Elissa V.
You've probably read an infinite amount of articles offering tips on how to "green" your life, but now you have the opportunity to "green" your death. Morbid? Yes. Earth-friendly? You bet. Referred to as "composting at its best" by Cynthia Beal, owner of The Natural Burial Company, eco-friendly burial products have made their way into the mainstream in the United States. Steadily popular in Britain for years, "green funerals" have started to catch on mainly in California, Florida, New York, South Carolina and Texas.
The majority of eco-friendly burial products come from overseas – including the Ecopod, which is made in the United Kingdom – although there are a few domestic makers. Options range from natural-fiber shrouds to fair-trade bamboo caskets lined with unbleached cotton. There are also more traditional-looking handcrafted coffins made of wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. – CNN
Not too long ago, cremation was the front-runner for environmentally friendly burial, but its use of fossil fuels in the burning process has raised concerns and criticisms from experts and activists. "Green funerals," on the other hand, provide a cleaner option.
Biodegradable coffins are part of a larger trend toward "natural" burials, which require no formaldehyde embalming, cement vaults, chemical lawn treatments or laminated caskets. Advocates say such burials are less damaging to the environment. The market is potentially huge. U.S. funeral homes generate an estimated $11 billion in revenue annually and that figure is sure to grow as baby boomers age. – CNN
A verification system is currently being created by The Green Burial Council to verify the commitment and quality of businesses and their "green" burial products. Prices for biodegradable containers range anywhere from $100 for a basic cardboard box to more than $3,000 for a handcrafted, hand-painted model. Well, if you're going to die, this sounds like the way to do it. Further Reading:
