Eco Funerals
The topic of environmentally—friendly farewells “eco-funerals” covers a wide range of issues, from full “natural burials” in specially designated areas, to simple choices made throughout the funeral arrangements that will minimise the environmental impact and carbon footprint of someone’s funeral. Common areas of focus are embalming, the preparation of the deceased and caskets.
EMBALMING:
Modern embalming is now the usual way of preparing the deceased in New Zealand, with approximately 80% of deceased persons being embalmed. But when thinking of an environmentally—friendly funeral most people believe that doing nothing, and certainly not embalming, is the most natural state for the deceased. However, this does not recognise the accumulation of toxins or chemicals that build up in one’s body during life, or drugs that may be introduced during a final illness. These often leave the body in an anything but natural state. So simply doing nothing to the deceased does not rid the body of harmful toxins in the body or remove the chemicals induced through medications during the later stages of illness. Techniques such as EcoPrep resolve both these issues.
For more information on eco friendly options now developed we suggest you contact your local funeral home to find out what type of eco- friendly options they can provide.
CASKETS:
There are many Eco friendly caskets available, in fact so many that funeral homes can’t carry them all in stock. But most catalogue items can be obtained within 48 hours.
THE THREE MOST USED ARE:
The ‘Willow Woven Casket’ - This is a specialised woven willow casket sourced in New Zealand. This is more expensive than plain pine.
The ‘Plain Pine Box’, known as a Settler. This is made of seconds Pine and supplied with rope handles. The ‘Crafted Pine’ – This is made from 1st NZ pine and supplied with finely crafted wooden handles that are comfortable to carry with.
As mentioned above, there are many more eco friendly caskets available including bamboo, ply and woollen.