Natural Options in Washington Funeral Homes

Since people are becoming more and more concerned with the environment it is only natural that this concern would carry over into burial arrangements and Washington Funeral Homes are giving the people what they want. There are many ways that funeral homes can make their plans more eco-friendly but most people do not realize that they exist. All you have to do is ask though and options for an earth friendly burial will be provided to you.

When making arrangements at Washington funeral homes, your choice of cremation or burial will depend on the amount of choices available to you. Many do not choose cremation now though because they feel that the emissions from the crematoriums are not good for the environment. If you do choose cremation though you can make it a little more earth friendly in the way that you dispose of the ashes. One way is to scatter the ashes. When ashes are scattered they simply go back to the earth or, if they are scattered over a lake, river, or ocean, they sink to the bottom and become part of the ecosystem. Scattering ashes is both affordable and earth friendly.

Sometimes when a loved one is cremated at funeral homes in Washington the family still wants to have a burial. If your loved one has been cremated and will be buried you can choose a biodegradable urn to bury them in. Biodegradable urns are made of materials that will decompose quickly – usually over a period of a couple of years – and will not harm the earth. They have no harmful chemicals and leave no traces of the urn behind. Biodegradable urns can also be used if the cremated loved one is going to be disposed of in a lake or ocean. The material that the urn is made of simply disintegrates in the water.

If you’ve chosen to give your loved one a burial and would like to have an ecologically friendly burial you should consider the type of casket you are going to use. Many people think that is cardboard casket is just plain unattractive but there are many ways that you can change that. A cardboard casket is very sturdy and can be made more visually appealing by adding your own custom artwork. Why not have friends and family decorate it with biodegradable paints. Everyone can paint a scene that depicts a memory of their loved one. If money is not an issue you can even have a professional painter decorate it and make it beautiful.

There are other earth friendly options that can take the place of a traditional casket, too. Bamboo and wicker caskets are now available through several sources and the make a unique and beautiful resting place. They biodegradable and will bring no harm to the soil or the water in the surrounding area. Some prefer to take it even a step further and have their loved one buried in a shroud. A shroud is simply layers of cloth wrapped around the body and when you choose earth friendly materials such as hemp they will disintegrate over time.

You can also make a burial more earth friendly by choosing the marker very carefully. Many of the markers in cemeteries are not made of natural materials but those that are interested in natural options will choose materials like wood or stone. Carvers can make lovely wood markers and stone carvers can do wonderful things with natural stone. Another option you can consider if your loved one is buried on private property is to plant a tree with a marker. Over the years the tree will grow and stand as a permanent tribute to your loved one.

Many cemeteries use a vault simply by default, assuming that it is desired. But by not using a vault and using a grave liner or no liner at all, you can save space. Land space is in demand and cemeteries are taking up more and more space. If more people requested that vaults were not used we would save more space.

Finally, whether you are having or burial or your loved one is going to be cremated at a funeral home in Washington, one of the simplest things you can do to contribute to the environment is request that the body not be embalmed. Embalming has many consequences. If the body is being cremated embalming creates chemical fumes that are released into the atmosphere.

If the body is being buried, the chemicals used in embalming have been knows to seep into the earth and sometimes surrounding bodies of water. The truth is that there is no law that says that the body has to be embalmed but it is often assumed that families would choose this so request that the body of your loved one not be embalmed. When combined with some of these other natural options, you can make your funeral arrangements more earth friendly.

Remember, we are here to help you all day, every day with your funeral and cremation needs. We're open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To contact us, simply call 1-877-989-9090. At any time of day or night, you will be able to speak with one of our trained, sympathetic and understanding representatives.