Do YouWant a Greener Burial? What You Should Know Going Forward
Minimizing the impact that one’s existence has on the natural environment continues to become more and more ubiquitous — and that goes for the end of one’s existence as well. When a person dies, our culture has several options concerning what to do with the body, from a burial that pulls out all the stops to a simple cremation. However, if you’re concerned with the environmental impact of your body’s final disposition, you can choose from a range of options within those traditional methods. According to the Green Burial Council, “green burials” can range from a burial that utilizes neither the traditional embalming process nor the cremation process, to a burial that simply utilizes greener ways of embalming or cremating a body. Environmentalists are primarily
concerned about the chemicals involved in the embalming process, as each body requires around four gallons of these chemicals, which can then leach into the surrounding soil and groundwater. This has led those who want their burial to have a less negative impact on the environment to opt for cremation instead. However, the cremation process isn’t much greener than the traditional embalming process. Its carbon footprint is only about 10% smaller than that of an embalming, and it still requires roughly 28 gallons of fuel to cremate a body. Additionally, ashes of human remains are dense, and when scattered, they can smother foliage in that area. They also provide no environmental benefits when buried. All this being said, regulations for body disposition vary between states, and some states are more willing to allow environmentally friendly methods of disposition than others. Coloradans who want a burial that has a minimal impact on the environment have a number of options to choose from. The bottom line is that if you want to know more about your options for an environmentally friendly burial, talk to the legal experts at Phillips & Blow. We can walk you through your options and help you record your wishes so they’re legally binding. Give us a call today at (303) 741-2400 for a free consultation.
Trivia
Luxurious Vegan Chocolate Mousse Making chocolate mousse with avocados may sound strange, but we promise it’s a match made in heaven! This sinfully delicious recipe is a great holiday treat.
How many U.S. presidents were lawyers? How many have been disbarred?
Submit your answers to Email@JRPhillipsLaw.com.
INGREDIENTS
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4 oz vegan dark chocolate, chopped 2 large avocados, pitted and skinned
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1 tsp vanilla extract
Correct answers will be entered into a drawing on Nov. 30 for an Amazon gift card.
1–3 tsp maple syrup, to taste Fresh berries, for garnish
3 tbsp cocoa powder 1/4 cup almond milk
DIRECTIONS
1. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the dark chocolate. Heat in 15-second intervals, then stir and repeat until melted. Set aside to cool. 2. In a food processor or blender, combine the cooled chocolate and other ingredients. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding additional sweetener as desired. 3. Scoop into glasses and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Top with berries and serve!
Inspired by WellPlated.com
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