Most people don’t think about the impact their death will have, let alone the environmental impact their body will have after they die. The provision of funeral and burial services is another industry that is making changes to go green and provide customers with choices that will reduce their environmental impact after they’re gone.

Here are some ways funeral services and cemeteries are going green:

* Using recycled paper products: Funeral services are increasingly using recycled paper for service cards and memorial books.

* Choosing organic flowers: Flowers grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertiliser have less environmental impacts.

* Supporting green cemeteries: Some cemeteries are being returned to a natural state to provide habit for flora and fauna and reduce the use of herbicides and irrigation which are extensively used in traditional cemeteries.

* Making people aware that they have the choice whether to be embalmed: In most cases there is no legal requirement for embalming which avoids toxic chemicals including formaldehyde, methanol and ethanol being leached into nearby soils.

* Having people buried in biodegradable caskets or burial shrouds.

Through reducing both the environmental impacts of the business operations and the impact of burial options, the industry not only reduces its environmental impact but also extends the range of choices available in the market. In 2010 the Green Burial Council will put in place voluntary standards for burial grounds, funeral service providers, products and crematoriums which will make it easier for people to choose green end of life options. People can support the industry’s move to go green by being aware of their options and choosing to support businesses that implement environmentally friendly practices.

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