Having an Eco-Friendly Service Starts With Understanding the Options, so Let’s Take a Look at Just a Few

Posted on June 19th, 2023 by under Funeral Home
Comments Off on Having an Eco-Friendly Service Starts With Understanding the Options, so Let’s Take a Look at Just a Few

Funeral homes in Berkley, MI

Funeral homes in Berkley, MI, can offer exceptional services and help you lay a loved one to rest after they pass away. Planning is a critical part of the experience, and some may choose to find sustainable options to incorporate to make the event eco-friendlier. Several methods help support this, and we have five of the top recommendations listed below.

Create a Plan

As with any event, it’s always recommended to have a plan in place, especially if you want to find eco-friendlier resources to utilize. If going green is the top priority, you want to make sure that you communicate this to anyone who is helping with the event to reduce some of the stress and get some extra support.

Suggest Donations

It’s not uncommon for individuals to send flowers after loss or offer them as part of a donation for the services; however, many flower species may need to be imported or transported, resulting in greater use of fossil fuels. So as an alternative, recommend individuals make a small or large donation instead to a cause or to help pay for the services and forgo using flowers at the event.

Pick a Sustainable Casket

Going green also means choosing a casket that’s made from sustainable materials. Multiple options are available, including cardboard, natural wood, and bamboo. They also use natural and unbleached cotton for the liner, which can help reduce toxins and chemicals that would normally be used to create traditional caskets and removes the risk of them leaking into the ground.

Use Biodegradable Options

Consider finding biodegradable choices if a reception or memorial is being planned in addition to the burial or cremation. Everything from cutlery to paper decorations can be sourced from sustainable companies as an alternative solution.

Shop Locally

You can also choose to shop locally. This means seeking out farmers, producers, and manufacturers for any items you want to include in the event. This helps reduce the need for transportation and excess packaging, and you may have friends or family that have a business they specialize in; there can be a more effective option for eco-friendly practices.

Funeral homes in Berkley, MI

Opt-Out on Embalming

Embalming is used to help reduce the decomposition rates of the deceased; however, this comes with a cost because toxic chemicals will be released into the ground once the individual is laid to rest. Choosing not to have an open casket event or doing a direct burial or cremation combined with a memorial or funeral service will still allow laying the deceased to rest while simultaneously choosing a greener option.

100 Years of Experience and Quality You Can Trust

These are just a few of the recommendations for an eco-friendly funeral. From choosing local farmers to carpooling, they can all make a difference in the experience, and if you have been researching funeral homes in Berkley, MI, our team of experts is here to support you. We offer exceptional service and are a locally owned company, so call us today to get started.

Michael Lope

Co-Owner, Funeral Director Michael J. Lope is a licensed funeral director and co-owner of the Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home. Mike attended American Academy McAllister Institute for mortuary school in New York City. Mike was licensed in 2006 and began working with his family at Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home. He currently works at both family funeral homes in Utica and Royal Oak. In his time off Michael enjoys golfing, skiing, hiking and camping. He is a parishioner at Holy Name Catholic Church with his wife Christine and his two children Andrew and Ashlyn. He and his family are committed to maintaining a family owned and operated funeral home that is a progressive and innovative leader in burial and cremation services.