Never have people been more aware of how their death impacts others. And not just their friends and family that mourn their passing. Many of us are now considering how our disposition choices impact people we don’t know, including people who aren’t even born yet.
That’s because the death of one person has an impact on the environment that can be felt by all of us. The awareness has many people carefully considering their funeral options and some are making decisions now to offset the environmental cost of their death years down the road. If you’re one of those people, you may want to consider one of the ideas below.
Choosing Streamlined Direct Cremation Services
One of the biggest changes in recent years is the number of people choosing direct cremation. This no-frills form of disposition covers all of the essentials without all the extras that increase the price and environmental impact of funeral services.
In 2023 the cremation rate was 60.6% in the U.S. Of those who choose cremation, 41% opted for direct cremation. The cremation rate isn’t too surprising, since it’s been inching upward year-after-year. However, news that direct cremations are more popular than traditional cremations with services at a funeral home and cremations that involve a post-service memorial is a surprise to many. It’s proof positive that more people are finding ways to cut the costs that are associated with death.
Donating Your Body for Medical Research
This tactic is both better for the environment and humanity since the medical research that’s performed can help develop new treatments and ways to diagnose diseases. One of the little known facts about donating your body for medical research is that direct cremation will be used for the disposition 1-3 years after the death! Medical research facilities have used direct cremation for decades because they know it’s the most efficient form of disposition with the lowest impact.
Trying a New Eco-Friendly Disposition Service
Direct cremation is certainly the most convenient and cost-effective option, but there are now a few innovative types of disposition that are considered to be equally eco-friendly. Aquamation uses a liquid solution to dissolve the body tissue in place of incineration, using 90% less energy in the process. Natural organic reduction (NOR) also eliminates the need for fossil fuels, and it generates nutrient-rich soil instead of emissions.
But there are two caveats to consider. First, these new funeral services are available in a very limited number of states. NOR is currently only legal in 12 states. Even if it is legal in your state, these services tend to cost much more than direct cremation. To put it in perspective, natural organic reduction costs around $6,500 while we can perform direct cremations for as little as $545.
Asking for Donations to a Carbon Fund
Instead of sending flowers or food, some people are beginning to request that loved ones donate to a carbon fund instead as a way to offset the energy used for the funeral services. A carbon fund is a way for people to offset the emissions they generate with carbon credits. The credits are used to help fund projects that reduce emissions and combat climate change.
The concept of carbon credits was originally used by companies that wanted to offset the emissions they generated, often because they are capped at the amount of greenhouse gasses they can emit. But today carbon funds can also be used by individuals that want to counteract their carbon footprint, including the last one they make with their death.
Want to offset the environmental cost of your death by choosing direct cremation? At Direct Cremate we offer the best prices you’ll find for direct cremation, and we can help you arrange direct cremation services for yourself so you have assurance that emissions will be minimized.
