Green+burial+reflect+for+earth,+family+finances

Markoe, Laruen. "Green Burials Reflect Care for Earth, Family Finances." //The Christian Century//. Christian Century Foundation, 23 Jan. 2014. Web. 01 Mar. 2017.

Author Lauren Markoe discusses the environmental impact of the alternatives to green burials mostly highlighting the standard casket burial and cremation. Embalming fluid which is used in a standard casket style burial to preserve the body for viewing has a slew of harmful chemicals including methanol ethanol and formaldehyde which are suspected carcinogens. Although cremation takes up less space and prevents water decontamination, it still has an environmental impact. The energy expenditure of the crematoriums mixed with the harmful pollutants they release into the air through the burning of metals in tooth fillings and medical byproducts cause crematoriums to be less environmentally friendly as most think. In most cases, the bodies are embalmed anyway before burning which causes an even larger environmental impact. Even though a new form of body disposal which uses heat, pressure and the alkaline solution has been created which is more eco-friendly its only legal in eight states. Making this new form of body disposal an unrealistic option for most consumers.

This articles published in 2014 helps cover a distinct part of my paper. That part being the explanation for the rise of green burial sites due to no other options for a sustainable deathstyle. Addressing one of the major issues for the growing trend of green burials will help my understanding the underlying causes behind the movement. The change for environmentally friendly attitudes collides directly with the inability to find a eco-friendly deathstyle. Instead of using this article to merely cover the more typical standards of body disposal I will be using the article to determine WHY and HOW green burial sites are a growing trend. Addressing the opposing viewpoints and highlighting its differences from green burials will help my reader understand why and how green burials are becoming more common.