Death is a part of everyone's life. No matter how lavish one has lived their life, the mortality of humans is always the same. But how we handle the death of humans is unique, and not every person will have the same cremation or burial service. When it comes to thinking about the environment and how death impacts it, some people may consider different options. Certain rituals and ceremonies are held after a funeral or burial. These may also impact the environment and those around us, sometimes negatively. If you are looking for a greener option, direct cremation is an option for a loved one.

How Traditional Funeral Services Impact The Environment

Traditional funeral and burial services can have an impact on the environment. With more bodies being buried, cemeteries will fill up and run out of space for new bodies. As the death rate remains the same, the space for those bodies does not. Funerals may also bring more hectic planning and travel plans for those who are attending the services of a loved one. It also requires more costs and resources, including purchasing the coffin, booking a service, and even a post-service memorial. Trees, steel, concrete, and other resources and materials may be ended in the burial process. Choosing a greener option and saving on these costs and resources can be done when opting for cremation instead.

The Environmental Benefits of Using Direct Cremation

Cremation Services Provide Families with Control & Flexibility

As mentioned above, funeral services use up lots of resources, both expensive and polluting the environment. They also cause lots of stress and planning on the family's end. With more travel needed to go back and forth for visiting and burial services and less control in planning for your loved one's unique memorial, it can have an impact on your mental health and the environment. The more time you have to plan, the more you can choose eco-friendly and affordable options for honoring a loved one without sticking to the status quo. 

Embalming Is Not Necessary - Less Toxicity

With direct cremation services, embalming is not necessary. Embalming can be toxic to the environment and includes toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, arsenic, and methanol. These chemicals on the buried remains can spread to the ground, contaminate the water, and cause health problems. This pollutes not only waterways but also the food chain and aquatic animals. 

Ashes Use Less Energy To Transport

Less energy is required when transporting a loved one's ashes. Ashes are much lighter than a coffin and use up less cargo space. Whether you're having your ashes transported to you from a local funeral home or you are planning on traveling to spread the ashes and honor a loved one, less energy will be required. 

Cremation Does Not Take Up As Much Space

As mentioned earlier, cemeteries are losing space to lay loved ones to rest. As more people are choosing traditional funeral and burial services, there is less space available for new deaths. When choosing direct cremation, you can skip the need for a burial, and if you choose to bury a loved one's urn, it takes up much less space in the ground when compared to a casket. Urns are lighter, smaller, and easier to transport. They can be added to your home and put as a memorial to honor a loved one, which is not only a greener option but often more unique and meaningful than a traditional burial service. 

Discuss Direct Cremation Services With Hamel-Lydon

If you are in the Quincy, MA, area and are looking to discuss options for a loved one's service, our team at Hamel-Lydon Chapel & Cremation is here to help. We are here to provide guidance during this challenging time. Whether you are looking for affordable or environmentally friendly options, direct cremation is a popular choice for families. Our team offers different packages for direct cremation so you can choose what works best for your budget and your family. Learn more about our cremation services and our team's commitment to helping you during this time.