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Disclaimer: This is probably not the sparkiest topic ever discussed on Earthmums. Those who prefer not to think about death please click on another story.

Have you ever wondered about the environmental impact of your funeral? I have a plan.

I would like my body to be tossed into a school of piranhas, and have my skeleton used for Science and/or television comedy/horror sketches.
The absence of materials used in the process, as well as the valuable use of my all-natural skeleton, would offset the carbon imprint created by transporting my body to the piranhas, or vice versa.

If that is not your style, consider these environmental issues.

Coffins
Barbara Cartland, the best selling romantic author of all-time, was buried in a recycled cardboard coffin. There is some irony in the fact that she sold millions upon millions of paperback novels, but she was still doing a good thing.
It was not just about saving trees.
Most coffins are made from chip-board and have plastic or metal handles and hinges. The manufacturing of coffins is quite an environmentally harmful process. The other issue is bio-degradation. Varnished wood and plastic is not designed to break-down at all.
Options such as a wicker casket, or a simple cotton shroud, are popular in the US. The cardboard option is the only legal option in Australia at the moment.
If the manner in which you die leaves your body un-reachable, or no longer in existence, then the whole coffin issue is moot.

The Motorcade
A “Footcade” from the ceremony to the burial ground leaves no significant carbon imprint. Hopefully people will car-pool or take public transport to the event.

Embalming
This process is mainly designed to prevent decomposition. So if you are getting buried, it isn’t a great idea. Still, if you want to look your best at the viewing, then you’ll have to let the embalmers have a crack at you. There is debate over the use of formaldehyde, which is bio-degradable but toxic.
Being kept frozen is not great for viewing, although it does prevent de-composition. But simple freezing will not get your body back up to viewing standard.
Dying in a spectacular fashion in which your whole body is distributed to many places avoids this issue.

Some tips...
There are many companies in the US and the UK that deal exclusively in green funerals. Everything from the headstone to the flowers is taken care of for you.
The industry in Australia isn’t as competitive yet, so maybe there is an opening for entrepreneurs out there. The Lismore Bushland Cemetery follows very harmonious principles, and hopefully more like-minded cemeteries will take their lead.

Did you know?
Each year, 22,500 cemeteries across the United States bury approximately:
- 70,000 m³ of hardwood
- 90,272 tons of steel
- 14,000 tons of steel
- 2,700 tons of copper and bronze
- 1,636,000 tons of reinforced concrete
- 827,060 US gallons of embalming fluid, which most commonly includes formaldehyde.

Did you also know?
Green Death is a strong alcoholic drink that doesn't taste strong and alcoholic. It glows a luminous green. Here's the ingredients:

- 1/3 pint lager
- 1/3 pint cider
- One small (single serving) bottle of orange juice
- One shot of Blue Curacao

Too many Green Deaths can result in death.

Also...
The Green Death was a 6 episode story-line for Dr. Who in 1973. It dealt with environmental issues.