Green Cremation Services

From the melting polar ice caps and crazy weather patterns to sad polar bears and more, it seems like environmental consciousness is always on the mind. Luckily, there are tons of ways everyday people can do their part for the environment, from recycling and reducing plastic use to sustainable energy sources. There are also ways to make cremation services in Yardley, PA greener, so you can be green even in death.   

The traditional cremation method does have slight environmental impact as is requires the burning of fossil fuels achieve the intense heat necessary to break down a body. However, it is better than traditional burial as it doesn’t involve embalming or other harsh pollutants being put into the ground.   

There are other greener cremation services available thanks to modern advancements and awareness. Green cremation services take a few more steps to make the entire process cleaner and more eco-friendly. Green cremations, or natural cremations and eco-cremations, use no harmful or toxic chemicals to treat or embalm the body. This reduces the amount of harmful gases released during the cremation.   

Another type of green cremation service is bio-cremation. Bio-cremation uses alkaline hydrolysis, or water resolution, to break down the body. The body is put inside a special chamber filled with potassium hydroxide, water, heat and pressure for a few hours. Over time, the elemental combination break down the body into bone fragments just like traditional cremation services. The remains from bio-cremation can be scattered or buried just like traditional remains. Bio-cremation uses much less fossil fuel and energy, and does not let off as much gas or emissions. As its still a fairly new method, bio-cremation is not readily available and may be more expensive.   

You personally can take steps to make cremation services greener. A few ways you can help out are:  

• Remove any dental fillings before the cremation. When dental amalgams are burned, they release a lot of harmful mercury gas into the air. BY removing the amalgams before the cremation, you are helping prevent these emissions.  

• Choose to scatter the remains post-cremation. Buried remains use up ground space with caskets, and any chemicals leftover from the process could seep into the ground. Scattering takes up less space!  
• Use eco-friendly cremation caskets. These are specially built to not release any harmful gases or chemicals when burned, over traditional caskets that are made with chemicals and products that do not burn well. 
• If you do choose to bury the remains, do so in a natural urn or container that breaks down naturally. Choose a receptacle made out of handmade paper or Himalayan rock salt. 

Do you want to learn more about how you can make greener body disposition choices? Contact J. Allen Hooper Funeral Chapel. We offer a wide range of Yardley, PA cremation services, and we would love to discuss your green and traditional options for body disposition. Please visit us at 41 W Trenton Ave Morrisville, PA 19067, or give us a call today at (215) 295-7725.