Why is Cremation Often Considered “Greener” than Burial?

Many people are taking action in their lives to lower their environmental footprint. As we begin to see how humankind has affected the planet, it becomes more important than ever to make responsible choices in our lives. One way to do this is by seeking cremation services near College Park, MD, rather than having a traditional earth burial. There are several reasons why cremation is considered to be more environmentally friendly than what we think of as traditional burial.

One of the main ways that cremation is more beneficial is reduced land use. Burial in cemeteries takes up significant amounts of land, and some cemeteries are becoming overcrowded. When a loved one is cremated, many people do not choose to bury their remains at all. Some people will have their loved one’s ashes interred at a columbarium, providing a permanent marker in their honor. Others will keep the ashes stored in an urn inside their home. Some people wish for their ashes to be scattered in a meaningful location. Finally, some do wish for their cremated remains to be buried. However, even if this is the case, they take up much less room than a full-sized casket, and multiple different family members’ remains can be buried within one burial plot.

Another harmful way that burial can impact the earth comes from the toxic chemicals that may be buried in the process. Embalming involves the use of substances like formaldehyde, which is harmful to the natural environment. Additionally, many caskets are made of wood that is treated with chemicals intended to inhibit their degradation. These toxic substances can enter the soil after burial, causing harm to the natural ecosystem there. With cremation, none of these harmful chemicals will enter the environment at all.

One last way that cremation has less of a negative impact on the environment is that it uses much fewer valuable resources than burial. Caskets are typically made with hardwoods and metals, some of which are precious and rare. It has been claimed that in some cemeteries, there is enough hardwood buried to build an entire neighborhood’s worth of houses. Many of the materials that are used to make caskets will never decompose over time and will sit beneath the earth for time immemorial. With cremation, you have none of these issues.

All of this is not to say that cremation is a perfect process. It does release harmful gases into the air, like carbon dioxide, which is thought to contribute to climate change. However, when compared side-by-side to traditional burial, it is much less impactful. On the other hand, putting traditional burial aside, there are many more options now that allow for burial to be a “greener” process, using less harmful chemicals and valuable resources. Fortunately, people today have a wide array of options that allow them to make responsible choices. When seeking cremation services near College Park, MD, you can feel at peace knowing that your choices will have made less of a harmful impact on our planet. Contact us today.