Behind the Back Fence

Green burials and shades of green, are probably the oldest form of burial in North America. Any funeral service person who has been around for awhile, especially in rural areas, has likely experienced some green variation. So why the relatively recent interest in Green Burial? I suppose much of the interest is generated by the green hype as more people take climate change seriously.

In true entrepreneurial spirit more and more businesses have figured out there are green dollars to be made by selling green products to customers. It may not matter whether or not the company really has the environment at heart. Hey, why knock a good business stimulator. I notice a lot of politicians seem to change with the wind too.

Now enter the Green Burial Council. This group of entrepreneurs comes from a mixed background of folks, INCLUDING CEMETERY MANAGEMENT. They apparently decided that green burial, for various reasons, would be a good vehicle to preserve land, promote environmental awareness or perhaps a way to make money.

Consequently a number of funeral industry manufacturers, practitioners and some of the general public seem content to accept the Green Burial Council as the ultimate authority for “green” burials.

What is next—-Green Burial Certification by a licensing or association authority? I hope that is not the case. Medical doctors have their specialty categories and funeral directors have their voluntary CFSP programs. There is nothing wrong with promoting green burials as a marketing too. However, legitimizing green burial by a certification process diminishes the value of the funeral director’s license. A valid funeral director’s license should make the licensee qualified in all aspects of funeral service. And who needs another licensing/certification process? Contrary opinions are invited.

In the last issue I made a rather skeptical comment about problems that may arise as we try to switch to the online death certificate. A colleague from another state that is already doing online certificates says it is great. Saves them a lot of time and mileage. He did mention that some doctors are still dragging their feet.

If Fed-Ex is going to deliver caskets purchased online, associations should encourage them to handle body transport.???????????????

About the Author: Lowell Pugh has funeral director and embalmer licenses in Missouri and Texas and continues the operation of the 105-year-old family funeral home. He is publisher of The Dead Beat which began in 1999. He can be contacted at The Dead Beat address.