| The world is going green. From the biodegradable | | | | biodegradable cremation caskets that are considerably |
| paper diapers that swaddle a newborn’s bottom to | | | | less expensive than the heavy, sealable coffins |
| the body’s cremation at death, eco-conscious | | | | required for burial. Unlike burial, cremation does not |
| Americans are seeking ways to move through life | | | | require the use of underground concrete vaults to |
| without increasing the environmental damage to our | | | | protect the earth from decomposition. Cremains are |
| world. Environmental experts agree that cremation is | | | | clean and sterile and produce no risk of toxic harm to |
| greener than traditional burial. While it does take quite a | | | | the environment. When cremation is selected, families |
| bit of energy to cremate a body, the environmental toll | | | | can even choose to eliminate embalming, saving the |
| is considerably less than the resources consumed to | | | | environment from the highly toxic chemicals released |
| make coffins and the environmental burden created | | | | during the embalming process. |
| by the toxic chemicals used during the embalming | | | | Unlike burial, cremation does not require land resources, |
| process. | | | | freeing more land for other uses and decreasing the |
| A December 2008 article in U.S. News & World | | | | amount of land needed for cemeteries. If a family |
| Report online noted that cremations are increasing in | | | | does choose to inter its loved one’s cremains in a |
| the U.S. Concern for the environment certainly plays a | | | | cemetery, more than one set of cremains is usually |
| roll in the move toward greener funeral arrangements, | | | | allowed to be interred on a single plot, decreasing the |
| but cost considerations driven by the poor economy | | | | amount of land space devoted to burial. Columbariums, |
| appear to be the major reason more families are | | | | free-standing columns or walls located within |
| choosing cremation. Just as it took high gas prices to | | | | mausoleums or chapels, allow multiple cremation urns |
| spur Americans to embrace fuel-efficient cars, it may | | | | to be stored, each in its own niche, in a compact |
| take economic belt-tightening to lead Americans to | | | | space, further decreasing land use. Cremation also |
| recognize the environmental — and financial — | | | | allows scattering of the deceased loved one’s |
| advantages of cremation. | | | | cremains, an environmentally friendly option that uses |
| Cremation options allow families a wide variety of | | | | no land space and allows cremains to return to and |
| choices in planning the final arrangements for their | | | | enrich the earth. |
| dearly departed. Cremation permits the use of | | | | |