The desire for a more environmentally-friendly memorial service is something we hear often from our families, and we’ve expanded that to our extensive program of cremation services in Mt Pleasant, SC. At McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation, we’re always updating our offerings to help your families. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most exciting new advances in green cremation services. 

Biodegradable Urns 

Many of our families choose to have the cremation remains buried in a local cemetery, and we offer cremation vaults for that. But a unique option is a new biodegradable urn that contains a tree seed in its base. When the urn is planted, it breaks down in the soil and releases the ashes and the seed, which grow together into a powerful tree. This is a unique memorial option that will last decades and give the family a beautiful place to gather for many years to come. 

A Life-Sustaining Burial at Sea 

Burying the ashes at sea has always been a popular choice for families whose loved one enjoyed the water. But instead of simply sprinkling the ashes in the water, a new option boosts the sea ecosystem in the process. Coral balls are uniquely-shaped ash receptacles that come with GPS tracking and are shaped in a way that attracts coral and other sea life. Your loved one’s final resting place will become its own mini-ecosystem that can sustain hundreds of organisms. 

A Gentler Cremation 

For cremation to be as effective as it is, it requires a powerful oven called a cremator that burns at up to 1,400 degrees fahrenheit. But a new option gives you the same thorough treatment without the high energy release of a cremator. Aquamation, or Alkaline Hydrolysis, uses a heated alkaline solution to speed up the body’s natural decay process, reducing the body to sterile bone ash in only eight hours with a much smaller carbon footprint. 

Every Little Bit Helps 

A funeral and memorial service includes many small elements that add up to a lot of raw materials. A common example is the funeral programs, which give details about the deceased’s life to everyone who enters. These paper programs can be made with recycled paper, with no drop in quality and a much gentler impact on the environment. The same goes for many other elements of the memorial, so ask your funeral director for more details. 

Greater Digital Outreach 

Many people are splitting their memorial program between the in-person and virtual worlds, allowing people to participate from around the world. It’s common to livestream services and have a virtual guestbook where people can leave condolences and messages to the family. This makes it possible to cut down on travel costs and carbon footprint for many people who can participate from around the world. It’s also possible to host charity drives for environmental causes on our digital platform. 

If you’re interested in hosting an environmentally-friendly tribute as part of Mt Pleasant, SC cremation services, contact McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation for more information on our services today.