Eco-friendly Funerals

As Singapore becomes more advanced as a society and with increased wealth, more and more people are looking at how to make the world a better place to live in and that includes ways to reduce their environmental footprint, even in their final farewell.

What Are Eco-Friendly Funerals?

Eco-friendly funerals, also known as green or natural burials, prioritize environmentally sustainable practices throughout the funeral process. Unlike traditional burials that often involve embalming fluids, non-biodegradable caskets, and manicured burial grounds, eco-friendly funerals emphasize simplicity, biodegradability, and minimal environmental impact. The goal is to facilitate a natural decomposition process, to allow the body to return to the earth, and conserve natural resources.

Eco-Friendly Funerals in Singapore

Previously, eco-friendly funerals are represented by willow caskets in Singapore. These willow caskets are made of willow that takes a year to grow and are fully compostable. Usually such coffins are lined with biodegradable plastic and unbleached cotton. Willow caskets can look very pretty and can either be cremated or buried. However, they have not gotten popularised in Singapore due to their costs. They actually cost more than their traditional wooden counterparts.

Over the years, various companies have tried to bring in paper cardboard coffins but attempts were futile to try and get the public to utilise them. There is still the perception that cardboard coffins are feeble and not strong enough to hold a deceased’s body. There is also the concern of what will happen to the bodily fluids of the deceased should leakage occur in the cardboard coffin. Deeply entrenched beliefs that the coffin is a temporary “house” for the decedent also cause people to prefer wooden coffins to paper ones.

Just last year, one company in Singapore that does packaging went into cardboard coffins manufacturing. It is quite a smart move since most of what is needed to make the cardboard coffins is already used in packaging companies. The only thing is because these cardboard coffins are not yet produced on a large scale basis, the prices are not as competitive compared to the traditional wooden coffins. Besides being more friendly to the environmentment, another selling point of this cardboard coffins is that it can be personalised extensively. You can customise exactly what you want to be printed on the cardboard coffins and that includes photographs of the decedent. You do need to provide at least a day for this customisation to be done and that is one major pitfall in Singapore since funerals are usually conducted almost immediately after death. Maybe if the lead time can be reduced, the use of these personalised coffins might be more popular.

Conclusion

Eco-friendly funerals represent a sustainable and environmentally conscious approach to end-of-life rituals, emphasizing simplicity, biodegradability, and ecological responsibility. As awareness of environmental issues grows and societal norms evolve, eco-friendly funerals offer a viable alternative to traditional burial practices, allowing individuals to embrace sustainability even in their final farewell. By prioritizing natural processes, conservation efforts, and personal values, eco-friendly funerals empower individuals to leave a meaningful and lasting legacy that honors both their life and the planet.