Is Green Cremation Better Than Traditional Cremation?

You may find a variety of funeral homes that provide cremation services in Sarasota, FL including environmentally friendly options. However, it has not gained nearly as much traction as traditional cremation has. To help you decide if green cremation is right for your family, we’ve included some background information below.

One recent development in a bigger trend that has been growing for decades is green cremations. Nowadays, cremation has replaced burial as the most popular choice for Americans. It is estimated that up to 80% of funerals in some parts of the country are cremations.

By applying high heat, the corpse is reduced to skeletal remains throughout the cremation process. The pieces are then processed to a fine enough consistency to be put in an urn. The process of cremation may be made more environmentally friendly by taking these additional measures.

Eco-cremations, also known as natural cremations and environmentally responsible cremations, do not include the use of potentially dangerous chemicals like those employed in the embalming process. As there is no need for a coffin or burial plot with a cremation and dispersion, there is even less trash created.

Even while cremation has a smaller environmental effect than most other disposal methods, it still has one. In order to complete the process, fossil fuels must be burned, and older crematoriums can consume substantially more power than their more modern counterparts. The cremation of a person with dental amalgam fillings also releases mercury, although the problem will be alleviated as time goes on thanks to the development of efficient filtering mechanisms and the fall in the usage of dental amalgam fillings.

The use of eco-friendly caskets that do not emit hazardous chemicals into the air during the cremation process is only the beginning of the other components that make up a green cremation. Urns created from biodegradable materials, such as Himalayan rock salt or handmade paper printed on recycled paper, can be buried or scattered at sea with the ashes.

In recent years, alkaline hydrolysis—also called bio-cremation or water resolution—has emerged as an alternative to traditional cremation. The process involves placing the corpse in a chamber and treating it with water, heat, pressure, and potassium hydroxide (lye). When the process is complete, the corpse is converted to white “ash” (bone mineral remnants), and up to 30% more ashes are kept than in conventional cremation. Ashes can be buried or dispersed. Less energy is used, less carbon dioxide is produced, and no hazardous pollutants like mercury are released as a result of this procedure. Bio-cremation will eventually become as inexpensive as regular cremation as it becomes in popularity. It has been petitioned for in the United Kingdom and is already legal and readily available in seven states in the United States.

The approach will gain popularity as people hunt for greener options to replace their current habits. But because of the industry’s reluctance to evolve, many people still have to rely on the tried-and-true method of cremation.

Contact a local funeral cremation service in Sarasota, FL to inquire about the availability of bio cremation or other environmentally friendly cremation methods in your region.