Exploring The Burial Plot Selection Process

Posted on: 19 February 2015

Those who opt for cremation after death might also express what the family should do with the ashes. A rising trend of eco-friendly cremation options allows your loved one to become part of the earth in a faster, more organic way than traditional burial or placing the ashes in an urn.

Here are a few of the eco-friendly cremation options available.

Biodegradable Urn

The eco-friendly option most resembling traditional cremation practices is the biodegradable urn. A vessel made of a biodegradable material such as paper or clay holds the ashes, which can then be buried in the ground or at sea, depending on your loved one's wishes.

Discuss these urns with your funeral director as soon as possible to see if they are allowed in your area or in the particular cemetery you plan to use. Some cemeteries have a long list of regulations that include the urn needing to be placed in a concrete vault in the ground, which would negate the purpose of the biodegradable urn.

If you plan to put the urn in water, contact local authorities to see whether its legal and what protocols you might need to follow.

Tree Seed Urn

A quirkier urn option includes a biodegradable exterior and a tree seed. The urn is planted in the ground wherever you want a tree to grow. Eventually, your loved one's ashes will become part of the tree growth process, as the roots take hold and the tree springs to life. A variety of seed types are available including pine, maple and beech.

This is an especially nice option if you have a home or piece of land that's been in your family for generations. You will be able to return your loved one home to form a permanent part of the landscape.

Green Cremation

The traditional cremation process does use a limited amount of fossil fuels. A new bio-cremation option is becoming legal all over the world as an option for those who want to avoid burning those fuels.

In this process, your loved one is placed in a chamber to be treated with heat, water and lye to aid the decomposition process. The end result offers more ashes than traditional cremation, so it's a good option for scenarios where your loved one wants ashes spread in multiple locations.

If you are personally interested in eco-friendly cremation following your death, inform family members and make the proper arrangements with a local funeral home now. This ensures that your wishes are met upon your passing.

For more information, contact Marine Park Funeral Home Inc. or a similar location.