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Some people frown upon cremation because it is not environmentally friendly. It is true that the process releases several gases into the atmosphere, the chief of which is carbon dioxide. However, it doesn't mean that there is nothing you can do about it. Reduce the negative impact of cremation to the environment by:

Using a Fully Combustible Container

One way in which cremation contributes to global warming is when the cremation fuel burns to release carbon into the atmosphere. The more fuel is burned, the more gases are released into the atmosphere.

One way of reducing the amount of fuel consumed is by choosing a fast-burning cremation container. Suitable examples include cremation caskets made from bamboo, cotton and wicker. For maximum efficiency, it is best if the whole container is made from these combustible materials.

Choosing an Efficient Cremator

You should also inquire about the efficiency of the cremator being used. You don't have to know all the technical details of the cremator, but you can get a rough idea on the efficiency of the cremation system by inquiring about the:

• Cremation cycle – cremation cycles can take anywhere from one hour to three hours. Obviously, a shorter cycle will consume less fuel than a longer one.
• Cool down period – some cremators must be cooled down after each cycle. When the cremator is cooled, the heat inside the chamber is lost, and more energy is consumed to heat it up for the next cycle. This essentially wastes energy.
• Availability of Scrubbers – some cremators have filters/scrubbers that reduce the amounts of pollutant gases (such as sulfur dioxide) that escape into the atmosphere.

Offsetting the Carbon Produced

Despite your best efficiency measures, however, cremation will still produce some level of carbon emissions. One way of dealing with this is to offset the amount of carbon produced via a suitable method. There are different methods of doing this such as planting trees.

The easiest way to do this is to use a funeral home that has a suitable offset program. That way you only need to add a certain amount of money (enough for the carbon offset program) to the cremation fee, and the funeral home then takes care of the rest. Many of these funeral homes use the money to plant or preserve forests or commission renewable energy generators (such as wind energy projects).

Not all funeral homes have these programs or efficient cremation services. Therefore, you will have to do a little bit of research to find the right one, such as Care Memorial Cremation Solutions. It shouldn't be too much of a problem if you really care for the environment.