What Is Meant by “Green cremation?”

What Makes a Cremation “Green”?

There is no single action that can turn cremation into a completely impact-free process. After all, the cremation process still requires heat and energy and produces carbon emissions.

However, “green cremation” is about evaluating the entire process and looking for opportunities to reduce its environmental impact.

The following are some ways to do that:

• Supporting carbon-offsetting projects
• Reducing transportation
• Choosing biodegradable materials
• Avoiding unnecessary plastics
• Sourcing products locally
• Considering what happens to an urn or biodegradable container after it has served its purpose

Like planning a green funeral, an environmentally mindful cremation may consider the resources, materials, transportation, and environmental decisions surrounding the entire process.

Is Green Cremation Different from Traditional Cremation?

Traditional cremation, sometimes called flame cremation or flame-based cremation, uses high temperatures to complete the cremation process. Green cremation may still use this process while incorporating practices intended to reduce or offset its broader environmental impact.

Other alternatives may include water cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, which uses water and an alkaline solution rather than flame. Human composting, also called natural organic reduction, is another form of disposition designed to support natural decomposition. Availability and regulations for these options vary by state.

How Is Green Cremation Different from a Traditional Burial in California?

Green cremation differs from traditional or conventional burial in several ways. Conventional embalming, for example, may rely on embalming fluid and other embalming chemicals.

Caskets may incorporate metals, plastics, treated woods, synthetic fabrics, and other non-biodegradable materials, while burial vaults may require additional concrete and manufacturing resources. A conventional cemetery may also require considerable water, landscaping equipment, fertilizers, and ongoing grounds maintenance.

Green cremation requires energy, but environmentally attuned funeral homes and cemeteries may take steps to reduce and offset its environmental footprint. Hollywood Forever in Los Angeles and Fernwood in Marin County both offer environmentally mindful cremation, and some practices may include:

• Tree planting
• On-site crematories
• Biodegradable products

Green Cremation and Green Burial Are Not the Same Thing

The terms green burial and green cremation describe different approaches and green burial options.

In general, green or natural burial involves placing a loved one directly into the earth using biodegradable materials. Depending on the cemetery and the family’s preferences, this might include a biodegradable casket or another natural container. Green burial may avoid embalming chemicals, concrete burial vaults, and other materials that could interfere with natural decomposition.

A natural burial ground or green cemetery may also manage the surrounding landscape with conservation and ecological considerations in mind. Organizations such as the Green Burial Council provide standards and certification for qualifying providers and burial grounds.

Green cremation, on the other hand, still involves cremation but may seek to reduce its broader environmental impact through measures like carbon offsets, fewer transportation miles, sustainable products, biodegradable containers, and environmentally mindful memorial options.

How Do Planting Trees Offset Cremation Emissions?

Planting trees may help offset cremation emissions because growing trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to balance greenhouse gases released during the cremation process over time.

To put this into practice, Hollywood Forever works with veritree, to plant seven to nine trees for every cremation, helping offset the carbon output of cremations over time. Beyond capturing carbon, these healthy young forests support local wildlife, stabilize soil, and restore native ecosystems.

What Are the Benefits of Keeping the Cremation Process In-House?

The benefits of keeping the cremation process in-house may include reduced transportation and continuity of care.

• Having an in-house crematory may substantially reduce the transportation associated with funeral arrangements involving separate facilities.
• A loved one may remain in the care of the same team rather than being transferred between different organizations and locations. For many families, knowing exactly where their loved one is and who is caring for them could provide reassurance.

Many funeral homes don’t operate their own crematories. Instead, a loved one may need to be transported from the funeral home to a separate cremation facility and then returned once the process is complete. Those trips require vehicles, fuel, staff time, and additional logistical resources.

Hollywood Forever operates its crematory on-site and provides funeral services, cremation services, cemetery services, and memorial services in the same location.

Families considering direct cremation may also wish to ask their funeral director where the cremation will take place and whether the provider operates its own crematory.

How Biodegradable Urns Support a Sustainable Memorial

Biodegradable urns may support sustainable memorials by breaking down naturally over time, returning cremated remains to the earth without leaving permanent metal, plastic, or treated wood in the soil.

Products like the Unity Earthurn reflect this approach. They, and other eco-friendly urn options, utilize sustainable materials and manufacturing processes that allow the urn to decompose gently alongside nature.

At Hollywood Forever, families can request placing cremated remains in a biodegradable urn alongside a newly planted tree.

How Sustainable Caskets and Liners Reduce Cremation Waste

Sustainable caskets and biodegradable liners may reduce cremation waste by replacing synthetic, non-degradable materials with natural options throughout different stages of the process.

• Before cremation, choosing simple containers made from renewable materials may avoid the heavy metals, chemical finishes, and plastics found in some traditional caskets. A biodegradable casket or container may be another option depending on the chosen service. Choosing locally sourced products may also minimize the fuel and emissions associated with having products delivered from distant suppliers.
• After cremation, that same philosophy may apply to how cremated remains are handled. Cremated remains may be placed in a plastic liner inside the urn. Choosing a biodegradable liner instead could help families planning an earth burial, tree memorial, or natural scattering avoid leaving synthetic waste behind in the soil.

By making these mindful choices at different stages, the entire memorial may reflect a commitment to renewal.

Choosing Environmentally Mindful Cremation

Caring for the planet and remembering a loved one may go hand in hand, especially when protecting the environment was close to their heart.

An environmentally mindful cremation recognizes that final arrangements may leave a mark on the earth and offers active ways to lessen that impact. Individual choices, from using biodegradable materials to reducing transportation and supporting reforestation, could collectively reduce cremation’s overall environmental footprint.

If you are exploring green cremation services and other environmentally mindful memorial options in California, reach out to Hollywood Forever.