Funerary Ceremonies
Burial and cremation are the most common forms to dispose of the dead. Embalming requires formaldehyde, gluraraldehyde and phenol that are cancer-causing chemicals. Caskets/coffins are often made from metals, toxic plastics or wood. The slow rotting process in casket burials product bacteria that thrives on sulphur that can harm nearby water sources.
Cremation requires energy and creates air pollution, that releases chemicals like dioxin, carbon dioxide and mercury.
Here are alternate forms for disposal of the dead:
1. Sky Burial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_buriaSky burial, or ritual dissection, is a funerary practice in Tibet, wherein a human corpse is incised in certain locations and placed on a mountaintop, exposing it to the elements (mahabhuta) and animals – especially predatory birds. The locations of preparation and sky burial are understood in the Vajrayana traditions ascharnel grounds. In Tibet the practice is known as jhator (Tibetan:
??, Wylie: bya gtor), which means "giving alms to the birds."
The majority of Tibetans adhere to Buddhism, which teaches rebirth. There is no need to preserve the body, as it is now an empty vessel. Birds may eat it, or nature may cause it to decompose. Thus, the function of the sky burial is simply to dispose of the remains. In much of Tibet, the ground is too hard and rocky to dig a grave, and, due to the scarcity of fuel and timber, sky burials are often more practical than cremation. High lamas and some other dignitaries may receive burials so as to honor them in death, but sky burials were standard practice for commoners.
From :
http://www.huffingtonpost.com2. eco-friendly burial options.
Natural Burials
Interring a body in earth in a manner that allows it to decompose naturally is perhaps the greenest option available, and so-called green burials are gaining popularity.
Eco-coffins
Natural burial in a biodegradable coffin reduces carbon emissions by 50 percent compared with traditional burials, according to the Natural Death Centre.
"Shelves For Life"
Looking for a multifunctional coffin you can also enjoy in life? Check out William Warren's "Shelves for Life." Instead of buying a brand new coffin, this unique shelving system allows you to store books and tsochkes during life -- and your body after death. The shelves can be easily transformed into a coffin when the time comes, which really makes it shelving to die for.
http://www.mnn.com/your-home/remodeling-design/blogs/shelving-to-die-forCremation
If you insist upon being cremated, there are even ways you can green this process. One option is "resomation," which mimics the natural process of decomposition -- but on fast-forward. It involves disposing of human remains through alkaline hydrolysis: The body is sealed inside a tube filled with water and lye and steam-heated to 300 degrees for three hours. When the process is complete, all that remains of the corpse are some powdery bone fragments and about 200 gallons of fluid. Unlike the traditional cremation process, resomation doesn't release chemicals into the air, and it utilizes 80 percent less energy than standard cremation.
What do you do with that liquefied human body? Well, you could use it to help feed living humans. The fluid makes a great fertilizer -- if you're comfortable eating from a garden fertilized by corpse juice.
If you'd prefer to be a little less green and be cremated in the traditional sense of the word, you can always make an environmentally conscious urn choice. Select a wooden urn made from sustainable sources, or opt for the Bios Urn, a biodegradable urn made from coconut shell, compacted peat and cellulose that contains the seed of a tree. Once remains have been placed in the urn, it can be planted and the seed germinates and begins to grow, giving new meaning to "life after death." You can even select the kind of tree you want to be.
Cremation
If you insist upon being cremated, there are even ways you can green this process. One option is "resomation," which mimics the natural process of decomposition -- but on fast-forward. It involves disposing of human remains through alkaline hydrolysis: The body is sealed inside a tube filled with water and lye and steam-heated to 300 degrees for three hours. When the process is complete, all that remains of the corpse are some powdery bone fragments and about 200 gallons of fluid. Unlike the traditional cremation process, resomation doesn't release chemicals into the air, and it utilizes 80 percent less energy than standard cremation.
What do you do with that liquefied human body? Well, you could use it to help feed living humans. The fluid makes a great fertilizer -- if you're comfortable eating from a garden fertilized by corpse juice.
If you'd prefer to be a little less green and be cremated in the traditional sense of the word, you can always make an environmentally conscious urn choice. Select a wooden urn made from sustainable sources, or opt for the Bios Urn, a biodegradable urn made from coconut shell, compacted peat and cellulose that contains the seed of a tree. Once remains have been placed in the urn, it can be planted and the seed germinates and begins to grow, giving new meaning to "life after death." You can even select the kind of tree you want to be.
Composted Corpse
While you can't just toss a human body into the backyard compost pile, there is one interesting option. A Swedish company called Promessa has developed a way to turn acorpse into compost material in just six to 12 months. Here's how it works: A corpse is frozen and then submerged in liquid nitrogen. The brittle body is then bombarded with sound waves, which break it down into a fine white powder. Finally, this powder is sent through a vacuum chamber, which evaporates all the water. The remaining powder is nutritious and quite fertile, making it perfect for planting a tree, shrub or garden.
Other Green Options:
If you want to make your funeral as eco-friendly as possible, here are some other ways you can ensure a sustainable farewell.
Eco-invites: Friends and family can sprout new life in your memory withRemembrance Tree Papers. This eco-friendly paper is chlorine-free and embedded with wildflower seeds that can be planted directly in the ground. The paper can be used for funeral invitations, memorial bookmarks or thank-you notes.
Flowers: Request that floral tributes not be bound with plastic-covered wire -- opt for raffia instead. And avoid flowers that come in polystyrene foam, which doesn't biodegrade.
Transportation: Avoid gas-guzzling limos and encourage funeral guests to carpool to the burial site. Perhaps you can even skip the hearse altogether -- a funeral home in Eugene, Ore., is going the extra carbon-free mile by offering a bicycle hearse.
Images and captions courtesy of Mother Nature Network.
