Green Caskets

Green caskets are a more common choice than ever today, and that is not because people across the world are clamoring anything that happens to be the color green. No, green caskets are actually very rarely really green. Instead, of course, the “green” in green caskets refers to the environmentally spirit by which these caskets are made. A green casket can be just about any color (though most are usually some shade of brown), but it will always be eternally green because it is doing its part to keep the Earth's green spots green. Here is a brief guide to what's available today from the memorial products industry's ever growing selection of green caskets (and we will toss in a few other green products in this guide as well).

A common misconception about green caskets is that they are often more expensive than traditional caskets. This idea probably comes from the experience most people have at a supermarket in which green produce (often labeled as “organic” fruits or vegetables) can sometimes cost significantly more than other types of produce. Well, as economist will always predict, and as anyone who has followed our society's tendency to “go green” over the last few years has seen, the costs of green produce has decreased dramatically since the start of the 21st century and will continue to do so as demand increases. And the same, of course, is true of green caskets. Today's green caskets often feature more aesthetically pleasing amenities and even a more dignified look than traditional caskets. And, because demand is at such a high level, they can usually be found at a similar, or even lower, price. A quick comparison of green casket prices on line shows that traditional caskets range from $2,500 to 5,000, while green caskets typically cost $1,800 or less.

Green caskets usually earn their green qualities from their unique ability to biodegrade relatively quickly once buried. This works well for many religions, such as the Jewish faith, for which the return of a body to ashes is a prominent, important element in the spiritual nature of death. A good number of religions, for example, have long required the use of wooden caskets for burial of their deceased, and this is largely because wood is a natural element – as opposed to steel – that breaks down quickly and assures that the deceased will return to a state of natural harmony with the Earth and the universe. For decades, however, the wood caskets that were most readily available from commercial retail establishments serving the memorial industry were made from luxurious hard wood, often treated with elaborate polishes and crafted with the same care that one would attend to a grand piece of living room furniture intended to last for centuries. Though technically biodegradable (and therefore entitled to be referred to as green caskets) this type of wood casket left some to be desired among those for whom a quick return to ashes was important for spiritual reasons. So, for many years, the best alternative for such groups and families was to simply build their caskets themselves, usually from much lighter wood, and with no polish, than the classic hardwoods (which are still quite commonly found in caskets today, of course). Today, however, a grand variety of green caskets made from lightweight – but elegant – wood are available for purchase and delivery to just about any location in just two or three days. These pieces are often made from bamboo or some other similar type of wood and can add a comforting element to any funeral service for a deceased person who deserved to be remembered with great, but simple, dignity. As with traditional caskets these green caskets can be adorned with luxurious cloth lining, pillows, and any number of other amenities commonly found on caskets of all types today.

Green caskets are also commonly used when a deceased is to be cremated. Laws in most American states and municipalities require that a body be cremated while in a container of some sort, so rather than go through the expense of buying a very expensive traditional casket that will only be destroyed in a cremation fire, many families turn to green caskets. These types of caskets that are designed specifically for cremation are sometimes called “cremation containers,” but that term has a specific use in the memorial products industry. Cremation containers are a type of green casket that is not designed to be displayed publicly during a funeral service. It is true that cremation containers can cost far less than other green caskets (some cremation services even include a complimentary cremation container), but the artistic value of these containers makes them ill suited for any sort of dignified memorial service. What families who uses these types of green caskets will often do, instead, is to simply rent a traditional casket for a memorial service and then transfer the body to a cremation container afterward.

As going green is becoming a more and more important concern for just about everyone in today's world, green caskets are just one of many green products available through today's memorial industry. Also available today are a large selection of green cremation urns and green headstones. Like green caskets, green cremation urns are intended to biodegrade very quickly, only these do so usually under water. A family simply tosses a green cremation urn into a body of water where it gracefully floats for a few minutes before slowly sinking to the sea floor and then breaking down entirely in just a few days. And, of course, a green headstone is probably the perfect compliment to a green casket. These types of headstones are not necessarily biodegradable over a short period of time, but, rather, they get their “green” qualities from the materials. The manufacturers of green headstones make their products from materials that do not need to be destructively mined (as does granite and marble) from the Earth, yet are as solid as those traditional headstone materials.