We are learning more and more each year about how our actions can impact the health of the planet. Our choices can affect the earth in many ways, even in ways you may not have considered before. Take, for example, the idea of a person’s final arrangements. Choosing between traditional burial and cremation services in a funeral home in Holly Hill, SC, can make a huge difference on your environmental footprint and use of resources. 

One of the main things to consider is the use of valuable resources associated with traditional burial. To begin with, burial requires a plot of land. These add up over the years, resulting in overcrowded cemeteries and expanding use of land. Cremated remains are often not buried at all, and if they are, they take up significantly less space than a casket does. Next, consider the materials that go into making caskets. Hard wood and metals are used, as well as a concrete vault that the casket is lowered into. It is said that in an average-sized cemetery, there is enough hard wood buried to build an entire neighborhood’s worth of houses. Cremation does not require nearly the same amount of materials. 

The next thing to think about is the toxic chemicals that are involved with traditional funeral. Many people are embalmed, which uses harmful chemicals to delay the process of the body breaking down. With burial, these chemicals enter the earth still inside the body of the deceased. Additionally, caskets are often treated with harmful chemicals to improve their appearance and protect their surface. These are not good to introduce into the environment, either. Cremation services do not involve any of these toxic chemicals. Even if the person is embalmed prior to cremation, those substances will not enter the earth. 

The good news is that with both cremation and traditional burial, there are more eco-friendly options entering the market. You can find biodegradable caskets, which have a much lower impact on the earth than traditional caskets have. You can also find biodegradable urns for ashes, which can be buried in the earth or at sea. These materials will quickly break down into the soil and return the remains to the earth in a natural way. For a person who has a great love for their planet, or at least recognizes the importance of making responsible choices for the environment, these options are a great alternative to what has traditionally been used. 

While they are a much “greener” option, cremation services do not come without their own issues. The process contributes greenhouse gases to the environment like carbon dioxide, which are thought to cause an increase in climate change. It’s important to weigh out your options and decide which one feels like a better fit for you or your loved one. Asking your provider of cremation services near Santee, SC, can help you come up with a plan that lowers your footprint and provides a sense of closure. You will feel better for having made a responsible choice in today’s climate. If yiy want to know more about cremation service or want to schedule a funeral pre-planning, don't hesitate to contact Avinger Funeral Home.