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Environmental Impact of Cremation

Roughly 80% of Washingtonians choose cremation (vs only 52% nationally!), and many of those families cite concerns over the environmental impact of a traditional burial. It takes a lot of materials to build a casket, a lot of chemicals to embalm a person, and a lot of industrial tools to maintain a perfectly manicured, sprawling cemetery lawn. …But what about the environmental impact of a cremation?

Though cremation has been documented in global civilizations dating as far back as an estimated 20,000 years ago, in the United States it has only been a widely available (and acceptable) disposition option for about 60 years. We now know that this energy-intensive process releases 219 known emissions, including carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases, and carcinogenic toxins. Our affinity for cremation here in Washington has led to 1,400 pounds of mercury vaporized in the last five years alone, to say nothing of the natural gas we’ve gobbled up!

People's Memorial Association's Beverly Tryk will consider the environmental impact of our funeral choices and take a critical eye to what we thought we knew about cremation.

Apr 8, 2021 03:00 PM in Pacific Time (US and Canada)