While the idea of going green about cremation or funeral may be too much of a novelty, the way we do embalming makes the topic very actual. The good thing is that USA leads the world with green cremations known as Resomation.

Resomation is known as the green alternative to cremation. Many people who are asked if they would like to be Resomated say no. Some responders tell Forbes that they don't want to be dissolved in a liquid. Others falsely think cremation is a greener alternative.

Neither cremation nor funerals are not what we would call green these days. Either cremation or embalming are now to be toxic. "More than 800,000 gallons of embalming fluid is interred in the earth annually and most of it is swimming in formaldehyde," Forbes reports. The problem is that Formaldehyde is listed as a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency and as a known carcinogen by the World Health Organization.

Funeral industry's emissions to the environment

"In the U.S. alone, the death industry buries 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete, 827,060 tons of toxic embalming fluid, 90,000 tons of casket steel and 30 million tons of hardwood board each year."

This is why one undertaker wants to import Resomation to Belgium. While many in Europe meet the idea with trepidation, it is the high cost of Resomation that may slow down it's entrance to Europe. However, in Belgium the government covers the expenses of cremation and may one day also pick up the cost of Resomation.
 

Via Forbes