Even in death you can be green

[W1nTry]

.....

People just dying to go green

Shurely they'll go greenish anyway once they're dead

By Sylvie Barak: Tuesday, 22 April 2008, 7:04 PM

AS IF IT WASN’T enough having enviro-mentalists bang on at us all the time about living a more ecological life, now they want us to die ecologically too, with eco-funerals fast becoming a global trend.

Last weekend London was host to a show called the Natural Death Centre's Green Funeral Exhibition, and according to AP, this is no coincidence as green funerals have been big in Britain for a fair while already, with the rest of the world just starting to catch on.

So, what are the trappings of a biodegradable burial, you might well ask. Well, some suggestions offered by a firm aptly named Green Endings, include cardboard coffins, natural fibre clothes for the corpse, and being laid to rest in a “natural setting”. Like under the tree in the back garden, for example. Embalming is a definite no-no when it comes to a green death (for maximum green-ness, let the corpse rot for a bit before sticking it in its cardboard packaging).

Apparently, the cardboard coffins lend themselves perfectly to being art and crafted up by family and friends, and biodegrade in only three short months, but, says Oliver Peacock from Oakfield Wood burial ground to AP, " They're not terribly easy to handle and if it's wet, they don't look their best either". As long as the box doesn’t come apart before being planted in the soil, it should be ok though.

No big chunky marble headstones either, for the eco-dead. Because marble requires mining and shipping (both of which produce CO2), it is considered extremely bad eco form, and should be avoided at all costs. Think more art and craft cardboard, to match the coffin. And the limo? It’s a gas guzzler, think horse drawn carriage instead.

Even cremations, which one would think would be the greenest way to go, could be more environmentally friendly according to greenies, who suggest storing the ashes of the dearly departed in more earth friendly bamboo or ceramic urns.

With all the planning that has to go into eco burials, some might be a little put off by the idea, which is why The Natural Death Centre has decided to kindly print up a handbook (on recyclable paper we hope!) to help people just dying to go green. Well, all we have to add to that is that we hope they rest in (green)peace.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2008-04-20-green-graves_N.htm?csp=34

[SeaTurtle]

Hmmm... Well ... it's not so bad for T&T industry. T&T has allot of bamboo and if they will adopt the approach, then T&T can export bamboo urns. Interesting ... does cardboard degrades faster then garbage bags. I thought they are unbeatable. Anyhow, as a turtle I will not die, I will just compost away.

[New Era Outlaw]

I've heard about this for quite some time now. I think it's a pretty good idea, since you're basically giving back to the environment when you pass on. I wouldn't mind a green funeral.