Are Cremation Services More Eco-Friendly than Traditional Burial?

As we learn more about how our choices affect the planet around us, we start to realize that we can be doing a lot more to protect the earth for future generations. There are many ways to conserve resources and generally lead a “greener” life, if you decide to make the effort. You may not have considered it, but this can even apply to what you choose for yourself and your loved ones’ method of disposition. Cremation services near Evanston, IL, can actually have less of an impact on the planet when compared to traditional burial. Here are some of the ways that this is true. 

First of all, we can look at what traditional burial requires and entails. Cemeteries greatly contribute to extensive land use, and all across the country they are becoming overcrowded. There are many valuable resources that go into making caskets, like hard woods and precious metals. Some of these materials will never break down as they sit in the soil. Even the materials that do break down are often treated and encased so that they are preserved much longer than would happen naturally. Cremation does not require this extensive burial process. Even if you choose to bury a loved one’s ashes after cremation, they take up significantly less room than a casket. In fact, multiple different family members can be buried within a single cemetery plot, if they have been cremated beforehand. This can save significant amounts of land, and it also does not require the use of all those valuable materials. 

Next, we can take a look at the toxic materials that are typically involved with traditional burial. Many people have their loved ones embalmed prior to burial so that a viewing and open-casket funeral can take place. This process uses chemicals like formaldehyde, which are then buried in the soil. These substances are toxic to the local environment, and will slowly leech into the soil over time. Additionally, many caskets are made with wood that has been treated to break down much more slowly. The chemicals used to do this are also very harmful to the soil and organisms that live within. While it is true that even with cremation many people choose embalming for the funeral services, the chemicals used are completely gone by the time the cremation process has completed. There is no risk of harmful substances leeching into the soil, even if the cremated remains are buried in the ground. 

It’s important to acknowledge that cremation is not a perfect process, and it does have its own negative effects on the environment. The process of cremation emits harmful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which have been shown to contribute to accelerated climate change. It’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons of each one before choosing a method of disposition. If you’d like to learn more about how you can change your own ecological footprint by utilizing cremation services near Evanston, IL, contact your local cremation service provider. They can explain the process to you so that you can make the most informed decision possible and arrange online. Contact us to learn more about us.