cremation vs burial environment

Whether you are pre-planning your own funeral (a very caring thing to do that can provide peace of mind for both you and your loved ones) or making plans after a loved one has passed, you’ll have many decisions to make. However, Short, who spoke out against cremation in 2008, is more ambivalent: "I just don't see why it would be better than a natural ["i.e., free of embalming, with a biodegradable coffin or a cloth shroud with biodegradable lining"] burial. Cremations vs Burials: A Quick Comparison. Jasdip Sensi finds out. Because of many reasons, the traditional burials in this century are becoming a problem. In some countries, including India and Nepal, cremation on an open-air pyre is an ancient tradition. Death didn’t use to be such an environmental drag. Did you know that green cremations exist and are a great option when you care about the earth? The Pros and Cons of Burial vs. Cremation. Depending on whether you choose to have a service as well, you can expect to pay anywhere from $3,000 - $9,000. Cremation vs. Burial. When you choose burial the body is still intact. In 2015, cremation overtook burial with nearly 48 percent of America’s dead being cremated, compared to 45 percent burials, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. The remains can be kept, scattered at sea, or buried. Cremation is considered to be more environmentally friendly than burial. However in choosing the way we want our funeral rites done cannot be looked at purely from an environmental point of view. Cremation has become a more popular alternative to burial. Cremation releases 250,000 tons of CO2 each year, the equivalent of burning nearly 30 million gallons of gasoline. It is also a better choice for the environment, as there is no need for a casket, burial site, or grounds maintenance. Many people are realizing that death isn’t as sustainable as we’d once thought. Do you care about the environment and want to look at an eco-friendly option? Which is the best choice for you and your family? The pictures are appealing: An elderly woman walking on the beach at sunset with her loving middle-aged daughter, dolphins swimming in the sea, and a redwood forest towering above. However, cremation is not without an impact on the environment and as a result 'Green Burials' are now looked into as a further alternative. Price of cremation vs burial. But so is cremation, sky burial, endocannibalism, famadihana and mummification. Which is better for the environment, cremation or burial? Often the deceased is embalmed using harsh chemicals for a wake before he/she is buried. Good questions… Most people don’t base a decision on whether to get cremated on environmental grounds – either you want to be buried or you want to be cremated. These environmental concerns are serious and are a critical threat to public health. The ceremony you want. It does not preserve the body indefinitely. It’s possible that the body is in good shape, but not probable. It allows you to schedule a service at a time and place that is convenient for everyone. (Related: What To Do With Cremation Ashes) Cremation provides you and your family with more flexibility for memorial services. Cremation is a still a good option and is more environmentally friendly than traditional burials. When people choose a burial style funeral, they often overlook many unforeseen factors that make burial funerals so devastating for our environment. Lower cremation cost by planning and paying for tomorrow at today’s prices. Not only do these types of burials help the environment, but they’re often more cost-effective. Studies by many reputable organizations have shown that the number of people choosing cremation is on the increase. People have been critical that these chemicals can seep through a casket and create water and soil pollution. Environmental Impact of Burial Funerals, What Funeral Homes Don't Want You To Know. (Related: How Much Is The Average Cost of Cremation in Florida) It is more environment-friendly than burial. Cremation vs Burial – The Environment. Average cost of cremation is one-third less than the average cost of a traditional funeral. However, cremation is steadily on the rise, and will soon overtake burial as the most common post-death option. But why do people choose to be cremated instead of buried? Secondly, burial plots take up land space and disturbs the Earth to inter a casket. by Jasdip Sensi. Two. Joe Sehee, Executive Director of the Green Burial Council, cites a case where his organization hired Ecology & Environment Inc., an environmental planning firm, to develop a carbon offset scheme that users of his site could refer to when planning a cremation. (Prothero,2001). Your religious beliefs may mean that cremation is not a consideration, or your family may simply be more comfortable with burial over cremation. While cremation generally reduces land use, the cremation process itself can, potentially, generate airborne emissions that harm the atmosphere. In this article, explore what exactly a green cremation is, and what your options are for you and your loved ones. Cremation vs. Green Burial . When you have a body cremated the body is incinerated and turned into ashes. In comparison, the cost of a cremation is much less than that of a burial. Cremation is cheaper compared to burial. Pros and Cons of Burial vs. Cremation. In terms of carbon emissions . Cremation vs. burial—pros and cons. Cremation Vs. Burial. While burial used to be the most common method of disposition in the United States, cremation has been growing in popularity at a rapid rate, becoming more common than burial in 2015. Before a funeral for a dead person takes place, the body is often embalmed. Better for the environment? The environmental perspective of cremation vs burial. Cremation, long considered an environmentally friendly or eco-conscious choice of bodily disposition versus traditional ground burial, does not qualify as "green" according to the NFDA or GBC. You can’t dig up an embalmed body from 1920 and expect it to be a perfect specimen of unblemished human anatomy. Knowing the pros and cons of each is big. Cremation vs. Burial: Why People Choose One Over the Other It’s no secret that cremation is gaining in popularity and continues to outpace traditional burials. Cost Comparison. However, when bodies are cremated, emissions such as green house gas carbon dioxids, pollutants, carcinogens and carbon monoxide are released. The cremation process involves transporting the deceased to your chosen crematorium in a coffin or casket. 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 to a rise in natural burials … They do have long term consequences, and therefore shouldn’t be ignored. The most popular burial alternative is cremation. The cremation industry claims – directly and through imagery such as the examples above – that cremation is better for the environment. Or is religion the factor depending on how they are put to rest? Statistics and Cost Comparison . A ‘green burial’ means that the casket is biodegradable or is replaced with a simple shroud. Financial and environmental factors; Choice of memorialisation; This is of course in addition to any preference expressed by the deceased and their family. Is it cheaper? Cremation is a popular alternative to burial but it also impacts negatively on the environment. 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