Nowadays, we have noticed that cremation services have become a preferred option for Australians over the traditional burials. 2015 was the year that cremation overtook burial in terms of funeral proceedings and approximately 70% of Australians have chosen this process in the metropolitan areas over the burial process.
That being said, the burial process has not become completely obsolete. Neither is it an irrelevant or less intriguing form of funeral proceedings. For a person who has lost someone dear, it may become quite confusing which process to choose to justify the memorial of the deceased. Today, we will present a few arguments for and against cremation and burial services to help you clear out your confusion and choose the process that you feel convenient.
Cremation vs Burial – How the process works?
Most people know the burial process better than cremation. A traditional burial has been conducted from ancient times where the body is cleaned, dressed and sealed in a coffin or casket and then buried below the ground in a cemetery. However, not everyone is fully aware of the cremation process.
So, how does the cremation process work? During a cremation, the body of the deceased is conveyed to a crematorium either in a coffin or a cremation capsule (a container made of cardboard designed for cremation purpose). Staffs present there will take down any metal parts included in the coffin or container and place it into the cremator.
Modern cremators use natural gas or propane and burn the body of the deceased at temperatures between 870–980°C. The complete process can take somewhere around 1-2 hours. After the cremation services are over, The “ashes” are then sealed in a container and dealt with according to the direction of the funeral director.
Cremation vs Burial – The cost associated with it
The cost of the burial process has been at a steady rise over the past decade, as the cemeteries are filling up fast. Currently in Australia, the average cost of a burial process take up around $19,000 in comparison to the cremation process it can be completed at around $7,420, a stark difference. Again, in some states, a direct cremation can be also arranged at a cost as cheap as $1,250 to $1,995,
However, if you are opting for burial but cannot afford one, there is are cheaper alternatives such as green burial or direct burial.
Cremation vs Burial – Which one is more eco-friendlier
There have been endless research and studies conducted to find if the cremation or burial process is better for the environment.
Most of the studies show that the cremation process is more sustainable and eco-friendly over burial process.
Let us find out how:
Although the cremation process releases almost 160kg of carbon dioxide into the air, when you consider the maintenance of the graves in a cemetery it is still less. How? The graves are needed to be watered and fertilised in perpetuity to be kept in good condition, this actually has a larger carbon footprint in the long run over the short term carbon footprint of the cremation process.
If you are an environmentally conscious individual, green burial is perhaps the best solution, which means that the body of the deceased will be buried without any embalming in a 100% natural and biodegradable coffin.
It is a completely personal choice
Choosing a burial or cremation process is completely a personal decision. Considering all the above-mentioned point you can base your argument and pick the process that you find is suitable to your needs or justifies the life of the deceased. Read the blog carefully and choose the one you feel is convenient for your needs. Or else contact a professional burial or cremation service provider in Sydney to help you out through the process.
