FUNERALS

With increasing population in the 1980’s graveyards were overflowing and public information campaigns such as "Save the land for the living’ encouraged the option of  cremation. Now, amongst the 425,000 deaths each year, some 70.8% end in this way. However, in a greener world we should perhaps ask if this is a sustainable practice.

The cremation furnace runs at 760-1150C for some 75 minute and uses about 300 Kilowatt hours of gas and electrical energy. That is enough to power 6 hair dyers for 5 minutes every day for the whole 52 weeks of the year. It also appears that 89% of coffins are made of veneered chipboard which is bonded together with formaldehyde resin which is released into the atmosphere during the process. The Environment Agency also claims that cremation is responsible for 16% of the UK’s mercury pollution, which come from cremated dental fillings.

Following this process our ‘remains’ are commonly referred to as “ashes,” however, in reality, they consist primarily of bone fragments from which metal is removed before the residue is ground into a powder in a machine called a Cremulator, which pulverises them into a coarse powder.

So what are our options ?

Scientists are working on new ways of disposing of bodies including Resomation which decomposes the body in a stainless steel container using a strong alkaline solution which is heated to 152C under high pressure. This breaks down the body tissue into liquid and bone. The liquid can be recycled into the ecosystem by pouring it into soil, while the bone is collected, pulverised and placed in an urn.

Being Buried at Sea is hardly an alternative as only 50 or so non-navy sea burials are granted each year for the UK's three licenced locations.

Freeze-Drying is seen by some scientists to be a possibility, bodies are converted into brittle, compostable remains using liquid nitrogen.

However probably the most eco friendly option today is a Woodland Burial. Managed either privately, by a farmer, or by a local authority, these sites are often left unmarked or commemorated  by the planting of a tree or wild flowers. Coffins must be made from a fully biodegradable material such as cardboard, which can be printed with designs such as chocolate boxes or even Dr Who phone boxes. Self decorating is also an option. Bodies can also be placed in a woven wicker casket, or in a simple cloth shroud which decomposes with the body.

Embalming fluid contains formaldehyde to slow the body’s decomposition but is harmful to the environment. However some Jewish and Muslim ceremonies prohibit embalming and burial has to be arranged within 24 hours of death.

sources - Leo Hickman, the Guardian and Funeralguide.co.uk