Planning a funeral is overwhelming enough without adding to the confusion by presenting us with a whole list of unknown options. So, too, are funeral homes presenting caskets as some sort of required expense. But what might surprise most people is the real truth about caskets in relation to their pricing and impact on our environment. There’s a “dark secret” polished under the veneer of caskets, and it is high time to shed light on that.
Markup Mania: The Shocking Price of Caskets
The inflation that funeral homes can charge on caskets reaches as much as more than 200 percent. It literally means that what it costs the funeral home’s money is much below what you finally pay for it. This markup will allow the funeral homes to maintain a healthy profit margin, leaving the bereaved family under great financial constraint during one of the most stressful periods in their lives.
Beyond the Price Tag: The Environmental Cost of Traditional Caskets
Traditional caskets, usually made from solid hardwood or metals like steel bronze, have a large ecological impact. The following are ways through which they do so:
- Deforestation: Hardwood caskets require the falling of mature trees, thus leading to deforestation or habitat loss.
- Resource Depletion: To make the steel and bronze used in making caskets, large amounts of non-renewable resources have to be mined, thereby depleting them; this contributes to environmental degradation.
- Slow Decomposition: Traditional caskets tend to be very slow in their decomposition and take centuries, often a hundred years or more, before they finally break down in landfills. This poses an increasing cemetery space problem.
Lifting the Lid on Alternatives: Eco-Friendly and More Affordable Options
Luckily, there are more ethical and ecologically sensitive solutions at one’s disposal. They often come at a much more reasonable price, helping families grieve rather than worriedly tending the bottom line. Some sustainable casket options include:
- Biodegradable caskets: These are made from fast-growing, renewable resources, such as bamboo, wicker, or cloth caskets, which decompose very fast and naturally, thus reducing their ecological impact.
- Living caskets: They were newly invented caskets made from compressed organic material mixed with seeds. During decomposition, they will raise a tree as a living memorial to the deceased when buried.
- Cloth Shrouds: Shrouds have been an option for many cultures for centuries, and they are made from natural fabrics like linen or cotton. They break down very fast in the earth and use very few resources.
- Rental Caskets: This fairly low-cost option allows for a fine casket to be displayed during visitation and the body cremated or buried in a simple box.
- Educating Yourself: Taking Control of Your Funeral Choices
Don’t be pressured into purchasing a casket through a funeral home if it goes against your values and budget. This is how to become an empowered consumer when it comes to saving money on caskets:
- Research Alternatives: You can find eco-friendly, more budget-friendly casket options online or through independent funeral service providers.
- Ask questions: Do not hesitate to ask a funeral home for the breakdown of a casket cost or if they offer alternative options.
- Bring Your Own Casket: Some funeral homes allow you to purchase a casket from an outside, or third-party, vendor. This can save you thousands.
How to Select a Casket Confidently
The choice of a casket is always a personal one. Knowing the effect traditional caskets have on the environment and on your wallet allows one to make decisions that align best with your values and budget. With different eco-friendly options, you are thus assured of giving your loved one a well-deserved farewell while being gentle with the environment.
Titan Casket
Titan Casket knows how critical transparency and affordability are in funeral planning. We carry a range of high-quality caskets, from eco-friendly to budget-conscious options. Whether you’re planning ahead or dealing with recent loss, our dedicated team is here to help and support you through this process. Browse through our incredible range of Titan Casket for sale and select the most fitting way to pay your loved one a befitting tribute while being responsible toward our planet.
