A Look at Different Green Burial Types

In a world where environmentally friendly choices are increasingly crucial, many people are turning their attention to the sustainability of their final disposition options. This newfound focus on sustainability has birthed a variety of green burial types. Exploring different types of green burials offers a way to ensure that even in death, one can leave behind a minimal carbon footprint. With this guide, we aim to unravel the mysteries of green burial choices, offering eco-friendly options that honor both the person and the environment.

Traditional vs. Green Burial: The Stark Differences

Before delving into the various green burial types, it's essential to understand the difference between traditional and green burials. Traditional burial often involves a burial vault, which is typically made of concrete, lined with plastic or metal. Reports suggest a staggering statistics: traditional burial methods inter roughly 1.6 million tons of steel, and about 4.3 million gallons of embalming fluid annually in the U.S. alone. There is concern that these embalming fluids, primarily formaldehyde-based, could leach into the earth, posing environmental concerns.

Green burials, on the other hand, are designed to minimize environmental harm. They focus on eco friendly burials that allow the body to return to the earth naturally. With the rise in green burial choices, organizations like the Green Burial Council have emerged to ensure standards and practices that promote truly environmentally friendly methods.

Certified Green Burial Provider

Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial has been vetted and certified by the national Green Burial Council and has received the Green Burial Practices Award from the National Funeral Directors’ Association, as well as the Gold Level Sustainability Award from Sustainable Stillwater and the Green Business Directory.

1. Natural Burial: Perhaps the most simple and intuitive of all green burial types, a natural burial involves placing the body into the ground without embalming. This method often employs burial shrouds and carriers or biodegradable caskets made of willow, seagrass, or bamboo. Human remains, in this instance, return to the earth naturally over time, reducing the overall environmental impact. Which shade of green the burial is able to be usually depends on the cemetery of choice.
2. Natural Burial Cemeteries – Interra Pure
   These cemeteries are either entirely dedicated to green burial or have sections exclusively designated for green burials. The landscaping is generally focused on conservation forests or restoration of local native flora.
   
3. Green Burial Cemeteries – Interra Natural
   These cemeteries allow entirely natural burial, without a vault, anywhere in their traditional cemetery setting. This means a green burial can be performed alongside a traditional burial.
   
4. Hybrid Cemeteries – Interra Eco
   This refers to a traditional cemetery which permits the natural burial of an unembalmed body but requires the use of an outer burial container to maintain the surface landscaping over time. A hybrid cemetery will permit the use of an open bottom five-sided, thin concrete grave liner so the body and carrier are still in contact with the earth.
5. Alkaline Hydrolysis: Known also as 'water cremation,' alkaline hydrolysis is a process that breaks down human remains using a solution of 95% water and 5% lye. This more eco-friendly “cremation” method is vastly more energy efficient than flame cremation and sequesters the carbon from the body in water rather than emitting it as carbon gas directly into the atmosphere. The liquid byproduct is sterile and neutral and is a welcomed addition to the water system.
6. Natural Organic Reduction: Natural organic reduction, often referred to as "human composting,” "recomposition," or “terramation,” is a method of converting human remains into compost through a controlled decomposition process. The body is placed in a vessel filled with organic materials such as wood chips and alfalfa straw. Over the course of several weeks, natural microbial activity breaks down the body, along with the organic materials, turning it into a nutrient-rich soil-like compost. That compost can either be returned to the family or contributed to a memorial land restoration project.
   

Why Opt for Green Burials?

The need for green burial options has never been more pressing. There's mounting evidence of a significant environmental impact attached to traditional burial methods, not only in the resources used for the casket and vault manufacturing, but also in the transportation of these hefty items. Green burials provide an avenue to reduce this impact.

Beyond the statistics, there's a philosophical appeal. The idea of a return to the earth, becoming one with nature after death, resonates with many. Green burials signify a final act of love and respect, not just for the departed, but for the planet that nurtured them.

In Conclusion

These three types of green final disposition offer a chance to make a final statement about one's values and beliefs. As society grows urgently more environmentally conscious, the popularity of green burial choices will only rise. In this journey from life to afterlife, taking the green path means leaving behind a legacy of respect, love, and sustainability.