Dying the Green Way - How Green Business Practices Are Changing End of Life

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Have you thought about what will happen to you after you die?As knowledge of how we impact the environment increases, many industries are considering how they can "go green". The funeral industry is no exception and the demand for green or environmentally friendly burials is growing. Funeral services offering green burials believe that aside from giving customers greater choice, they can also reduce the environmental impacts of chemicals in the soil as well as encouraging the use of biodegradable materials. This article discusses the main areas where the funeral industry is going green.More and more people are becoming concerned at the environmental impact of death and how this can be reduced. Green funeral homes provide a number of options to customers which will reduce their environmental impact after they are gone:

Not being embalmed - the choice to not be embalmed reduces the toxic chemicals leached into the land when a person is buried.
Choosing a green cemetery- some cemeteries are being returned to a natural state to provide habit for flora and fauna and reduce the use of herbicides and irrigation which are extensively used in traditional cemeteries.
Being buried in biodegradable materials such as plain wooden caskets, cardboard caskets or burial shrouds.
Although some of the options available to customers are clear, there is often misconception about embalming and whether it is legally required. Many people are not aware that embalming is only a legal requirement in certain circumstances and most often it is an individual choice as to whether the person is embalmed. This is good news for the environment as the chemicals used in embalming are toxic including a mixture of formaldehyde, methanol and ethanol. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency formaldehyde has been shown to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans. By not using these chemicals, the impact of them leaching and contaminating nearby soils is avoided. Some of the environmental impacts of burial can be avoided by choosing cremation. However cremation also impacts the environment by causing air pollution and carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels.Aside from green burial choices, there are other ways funeral services can implement green business practices. Some funeral homes are reducing their environmental impact by using recycled paper products for service cards and memorial books. Other ways to go green include choosing organic flowers grown without pesticides and chemical fertiliser and choosing local suppliers to avoid the environmental impact of transportation. In 2010 the Green Burial Council will put in place voluntary standards for burial grounds, funeral service providers, products and crematoriums.The funeral industry is one of many that are implementing green business practices. Through reducing both the environmental impacts of business operations and the impact of burial options, the industry not only reduces its environmental impact but also extends the range of choices available in the market. Consumers can support industry moves to go green by being aware of their options and choosing to support businesses that implement environmentally friendly practices.