11/16/2022

Green Burial: A Peaceful Rest Beneath the Waves

Green burials are quickly becoming a popular choice over traditional burials for the environmentally conscious. Green burials do not involve formaldehyde-based embalming fluids, concrete burials vaults, or metal caskets because they consume precious resources such as land and wreak havoc on our delicate ecosystem. 

Blue is the New Green

Some people who want to give back to the Earth for their final farewell are opting to be buried at sea.  
Being buried at sea is one of the greenest ways to have your body become one with nature upon your death. There are several environmentally friendly options available to those who wish to have a peaceful rest in a watery grave.

Become Part of an Ocean Habitat

One of the most promising ocean burials is available from Memorial Reefs International. This innovative company has partnered with the Reef Ball Foundation to support the survival of fish and other marine organisms by turning cremated remains into artificial reefs. 

Memorial Reefs International is dedicated to helping people and the environment by providing unique green burials. By combining cremations with a pH balanced concrete mix, a textured hollow sphere called a reef ball is created. Next, a bronze plaque with details about the decedent is affixed to its front. The reef ball is then lowered to the ocean floor where its rough surface and empty interior instantly attract fish, coral polyps, and other aquatic wildlife. Before long, the Memorial Reef becomes an integral part of a thriving marine habitat.

After the ceremony, the decedent’s loved ones receive the Reef Memorial’s GPS coordinates, so they can visit anytime they like. Divers are even allowed to explore the Memorial Reefs but are cautioned against touching the Reef Memorials and doing anything that disturbs marine life.  
Marine Reefs International offers three reef ball sizes and provides a choice of funeral services. The company can even combine the ashes of two individuals in the event a person wants to be interred with the cremains of their spouse or beloved pet.    

Marine Reefs International is proud to provide its unique green burial services in Mexico at their Silver Memorial Reef, in Italy at their Venice Memorial Reef, and in New Jersey at their New Jersey Memorial Reef. The company also has established reef ball sites off the coast of Florida, Texas, British Columbia, and Ontario, and announced on February 28th of this year that they will be placing Memorial Reefs in Hawaii.

Float Among the Waves

A company called Ocean Ashes is eliminating the need for expensive traditional burials and sprawling cemeteries by giving people the option of releasing their ashes into the deep blue sea. This type of green burial utilizes the ocean currents to force the spread of a person’s cremations, so they travel throughout the tranquil cerulean water flowing all over the world. 

Being interred in this manner is especially eco friendly and life sustaining because the dearly departed becomes part of the amazing aquatic life cycle of countless plant and animal species.   
Ocean Ashes operates in Florida and offers scattering cruises on private charters that depart from Destin, Saint Petersburg, Islamorada, and the Florida Keys.
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Green Burial in the Deep Blue

When we hear about people being buried at sea, the decedents are usually sailors. 

The fact is, anyone can be cast into the ocean upon their death if this is how they choose to be interred. 
Thirty days before the burial, a general permit from the EPA must be filled out and submitted per federal regulations in accordance with the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act. The permit authorizes the transportation and burial of both cremated and non-cremated human remains into the ocean. However, specific conditions must be met. 

First, the unembalmed remains cannot be released into the sea within three nautical miles of shore, and second, the attendees cannot toss anything into the water that is not decomposable such as plastic or metal flowers, wreaths, and gravestones or monuments. If loved ones want to have such items accompany the burial, they must submit a special permit. 

While the body can be inside a casket when it is placed into the ocean, a truly green sea burial involves the decedent being wrapped in a natural fiber shroud. A steel chain is then secured around the body to help it sink to the seafloor quickly and remain submerged. 

It is important to note that medical waste such as pacemakers, artificial joints, pins, and other surgical implants must be removed from the body or cremations prior to the ocean burial. 

The Sea Offers the Greenest Burials

People who want an earth friendly burial are smart to choose a saltwater grave. These types of burials are the most ecological because no toxic chemicals are involved, and the body decomposes quickly as it becomes part of the ocean’s lifecycle. 
  
For your final farewell, it does not matter if you want to become part of an artificial reef or be ceremoniously cast into the vast blue sea, you will be helping the earth by making as little impact as possible upon your death. Just be sure to make your wishes known or you may end up embalmed and laid to rest in a traditional cemetery. 
To prevent this from happening, solidify your plans for a green ocean burial using EverArk software.

EverArk is the state-of-the-art digital legacy software that gives users the ability to plan for their death in a way that is personable and convenient. With EverArk, you can easily document all the important details regarding your burial at sea. If you need to make changes later, the software makes it simple to edit your plans. Once you have finished finalizing the specifics of your ocean burial, EverArk helps you share your plans with the loved ones you trust to carry out your wishes.  
      
If you are interested in creating a digital legacy in preparation of your green ocean burial, give EverArk a try today!

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