Responsible Funerary Planning
by How much pollution will you go on causing after your death?
Let’s face it: we all have to go sometime. We may kick and scream, we may take every tablet there is to put off that day, but we still have to go. We have opinions and theories about what happens afterwards, but we have to go, so why not do it in a way that is going leave as little damage as possible behind us?
We plan our finances to minimise the difficulties for our families after our demise, so why not make funerary arrangements that minimise environmental difficulties for our descendants?
In case you’ve missed my point here I’m talking coffins. So much money is squandered and so many trees destroyed in the coffin business that it has passed into the realms of immorality, and of course the profit makers want us to feel bad unless we use as much wood as possible and pay as much money as possible for these things; to do otherwise would surely be a sign of disrespect towards our loved ones.
So well done to the makers of coffins that do as little damage as possible to our environment and our wallets.
There are many manufacturers who supply more reasonably priced repositories for our world weary bones when we are ready (or not) to let go of them. Recycled paper seems to be the material of choice, and they can come in some very fancy designs. The basic shape rarely varies, but they can be painted in whatever way the occupant wishes – floral patterns being the favourite, although I can’t quite see myself dissolving in a suit of pink carnations.
Wicker is another favoured material, although it obviously involves the use of non-recycled wood, but the advantage of course is that no chemicals are used in painting or varnishing, and no glue or metal screws are used to hold the coffin together, so there is no polluting of the soil.
There is an excellent and varied selection to view at www.creativecoffins.com and other googleable sites but my personal favourite receptacle for burying ashes in comes from www.ecopod.co.uk and looks like this:
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Post CommentBo Russo
On December 22, 2008 at 7:32 am
Good point Rask,Awicker coffin sounds like a good idea.
Glynis Smy
On December 22, 2008 at 9:33 am
What timing this article has! While visiting my parents in UK, they informed me of their plans for their departure from this world. They have opted for an ‘environmentally friendly’ funeral. They have paid to be buried in a copperice woods in Essex, here they use a basic coffin that is buried ’standing up’, it breaks down and keeps the woods nourished and thriving. They have my blessings as we spent hours here as a family, DH and I took our children there, so maybe my parents will help keep it alive for my Grandchildren. I like the Acorn ashes container and the idea of the wicker coffin. We need to be responsible for Mother Earth and now even in death we can be, great article as usual Rask!
Lost in Arizona
On December 22, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I’ve never wanted to be buried in a coffin. I like the idea of cremation. Of course, I’ve always wondered how much smoke goes into the air from the burning. But the idea of an eco friendly burial doesn’t seem half bad. I like Glynis’ idea. Nourishing a tree seems like a good idea. Why not give back to the earth?
James DeVere
On December 22, 2008 at 5:40 pm
- Recycle the coffin; it takes a few years for the buggers to rot to dust,
fun as usual . j
- Get buried at sea; a great solution as long as you are whieghted down – then the fish can gobble you up and the pressure squash you into a tiny little pellet for them
- Try cremation
anon
On December 22, 2008 at 10:31 pm
well – since my great grandfather was a coffin maker I’d have to disagree with this. It’s taking green too far. Really, the amount of wood used in coffin making isn’t like a 3000 sq foot house.
i do agree that the funeral business is a sham but that’s a different point.
for those of you who are environmentally concerned, fine. but please don;t push political correctness on this issue.
Maria Blazz
On February 22, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Unusual and interesting article.