THINKING OUTSIDE "THE BOX"

Are the following important to you when it comes time to decide on the disposition of your loved one's remains?

• No embalming
• No cement vault
• Environmentally-friendly landscaping and grounds-keeping
• Native plants and grasses
• Biodegradable casket or shroud

If so, then perhaps a green burial might be an option for you to consider. Did you know that not one of the 50 states in the US requires embalming as a condition of being buried? And further, no state law requires a coffin or casket, or a concrete vault. 

The 'death care industry' has begun to offer options with various levels of green burials — such as wicker caskets, urns designed to grow into trees, and an organic mixture that reduces the toxicity of cremated remains, which allows for safe mixing into the soil. 

Some green burial plots are less expensive than conventional ones, but can still cost more than cremation. But because of the saved costs for forgoing embalming, caskets and vaults, green burials are often more affordable than the full cost of a conventional burial.

Green burial is a way of honoring and caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact. This practice aids in the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration ​and preservation of habitat. 

It’s important for consumers to know they can opt for a green burial — and save money — at many conventional cemeteries, simply by declining options that aren’t eco-friendly. Read more about natural burial options in the state of Michigan.