Cremation Urns and the Environment

Cremation urns might seem like a very contemporary response to recent efforts to become more environmentally conscious. The use of cremation funeral products voids some of the issues concerning toxins emissions which accompany casket burials. Biodegradable urns, made of safe and organic materials that naturally decompose back into the Earth might as well seem very progressive for a traditional memorial service. However the act of burying one’s ashes, or using a beautiful artist-made urn or vessel is actually part of age-old rituals since the beginning of history. Take a walk in a museum with a large collection of historical artifacts and you will see endless designs of funeral urns from almost every ancient culture. It is so fascinating to see relics of Egyptian vessels, for example, which are so informative of the culture’s art and rituals.

There has been much debate recently about the lack of environmental consideration in casket burials. It may come as a surprise because it has become somewhat traditional in the United States to memorialize the deceased through a gravestone and burial. Yet the problem of land use and conservation may eventually lead future generations to limit the ritual of funeral burials. Not only will there be a land shortage, but the damage caused by the toxins and metals put into the Earth from treated wooden, plastic and metal coffins is irreversible. Cremation urns are an alternative to this issue, in that they take up less space and often are not made of toxic materials. There has been questioning as to whether crematorium emissions contain mercury, which can be a harmful chemical for the environment. However this is something that crematoriums are aware of and are making a huge effort to rectify the situation by altering their methods. A cremation urn, or even a biodegradable urn is made up of earthly materials such as clay or paper. Ashes themselves are a very basic composition of carbon and salt, so they are compatible with the Earth and its elements.

There are biodegradable urns created with affordable materials that coalesce with the Earth. Materials such as naturally harvested cotton and mulberry fibers and walnut stains are clever alternatives to the harmful toxins and metals emitted in casket burials. Funeral urns take up much less space and don’t release chemicals that are harmful to the environment or negatively affect our water table. Cremation urn distributors such as Shine On Brightly offer a gallery for urns that hold much consideration about the artist’s process, materials, and the environment. There are decorative cremation urns made by present day artists that can be observe as a signifier of our history centuries from now, just as we look at ancient funeral urns in the great museums of the world. The positive environmental effects of cremation and burial urns undoubtedly outnumber those of a casket burial and the options are much more unique and artistic. What may seem contemporary in cremation and cremation urn burials is actually one of the most natural and historical funerary rituals.