Advances in science and technology are not only meant to improve the quality of the environment while a person is alive. They also help safeguard the quality of the environment after a person has passed away.
This has led to a recent innovation called eco-friendly burial. So, what exactly is an eco-friendly burial?
What Is Eco-Friendly Burial?
In metropolitan areas, especially in burial services in Jakarta, many cemeteries have already adopted the eco-friendly concept.
As the name suggests, an eco-friendly burial is a grave that aims not only to hold the remains of the deceased, but also to protect the sustainability of the surrounding environment.
When you hear the term "eco-friendly," you may think of green and natural surroundings. This is certainly true. However, there are several other aspects you should consider in determining whether a burial site is truly eco-friendly.
One aspect that often draws attention is the amount of land a burial uses. As you may know, a typical grave measures around 1.2 x 2.2 meters up to 2.5 x 1.5 meters.
Imagine hundreds of graves in a single area. They would take up a great deal of space. This is one of the goals behind eco-friendly burial.
3 Examples of Eco-Friendly Burial
As environmental awareness continues to grow, many types of eco-friendly burial have been designed or even put into practice. Here are a few examples of eco-friendly burial concepts that may inspire you:
1. Eco-pod
From the name, you may already imagine something that does not harm or damage the environment. Indeed, the eco-pod is one effort to make burial more eco-friendly.
The eco-pod was created by two Italian designers, Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel. Although designers often work in the realm of art, these two were quite concerned about the environment. So, what makes this eco-friendly burial different from others?
The eco-pod seeks to address several problems with conventional coffins. First, conventional coffins are limited in terms of space. Second, they often cost above average, especially when the raw materials are difficult for people to obtain.
This eco-friendly burial concept aims to reduce the use of space, which usually takes the form of a rectangle. The eco-pod itself is shaped like an egg. The body placed inside an eco-pod will most likely be positioned in a fetal position, much like a baby in the womb.
Moreover, this eco-friendly burial is made from starch plastic. Unlike ordinary plastic, starch plastic is a type of biodegradable plastic, meaning it breaks down easily, especially when buried in the ground.
Beyond addressing issues of raw materials and land use, the eco-pod also tackles the problem of green areas often being lost to public cemeteries. For this reason, each eco-pod comes complete with a tree seedling on its top, so that a tree can grow after the eco-pod is buried.
2. Water Cremation
Cremation is one burial solution for addressing the limited space in big cities, such as burial services in South Jakarta, burial services in Central Jakarta, and other burial locations.
Cremation is a method in which the body is not buried. Instead, the body is destroyed by burning. The remains, which turn into ash, become the final trace of the person who has passed away.
Although this method is commonly associated with Buddhism and Hinduism, many Christians also consider cremation when their time comes. The main concern with this method is that it requires a very large amount of energy.
For this reason, Ed Gazvoda and his colleagues proposed an eco-friendly burial solution that still builds on cremation. This technique is called water cremation.
Water cremation is a method in which the body does not undergo the usual burning process. Instead, the body is placed in a high-pressure metal vessel filled with water and a strong alkali such as potassium hydroxide, or KOH.
A body undergoing water cremation is submerged for three to four hours before being heated to a temperature of 150 degrees Celsius.
Although the process involves heat, this eco-friendly burial does not consume as much energy as conventional cremation, which requires temperatures of 1,400 to 2,000 degrees Celsius.
3. Natural Burial
Because it is so commonplace, the use of chemicals to preserve bodies has become almost a standard requirement. However, this practice turns out to be quite harmful to the environment. This is why Joe Sehee revived the concept of natural burial.
At first glance, there is nothing different from a conventional burial. The body is still buried in the ground in a wooden coffin. However, several decisions make this eco-friendly burial method somewhat different.
One of its main principles is not using chemicals or materials that are difficult to decompose underground. This means the coffin must be made of wood and glue that break down easily in the soil.
This eco-friendly burial also must not use large headstones. Instead, flat, thin stones that sit level with the ground are used. Although this movement began in the United States, you can consult with a burial service in Bogor to carry out this method of burial.
Does Eco-Friendly Burial Catch Your Interest?
Those were three examples of eco-friendly burial methods aimed at preserving the beauty of the earth. Now you may have a clearer understanding of the various burial methods that do not harm and can care for the environment. Are you interested in choosing one of them?
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The Kamboja team writes guides on bereavement, funeral arrangements and funeral planning to help families in Indonesia.
