In recent years, many people going through the grieving process also want their loved one’s farewell to reflect their values. Among these is respect for the environment. But what does it really mean for a wooden urn to be eco-friendly?
This article explains it in simple terms, providing some relevant background information that underscores the importance of these responsible practices.
Background on Environmental Damage
It is well known that soil degradation, deforestation, flood disasters, global warming in short, everything we see happening today across the world we inhabit is linked to how natural resources are used and exploited.
To understand the importance of manufacturing environmentally friendly products, it is important to note that in recent years, the world has experienced climate events that have left a deep mark causing both material and human damage, as well as undeniable harm to ecosystems. To name a few: the devastating heatwave in Europe in 2022–2023, the floods that covered a third of Pakistan in 2022, the historic wildfires in Canada and Greece in 2023, Hurricane Ian in the United States, the prolonged drought in the Horn of Africa, the extreme rains that caused thousands of deaths in Libya, and the massive coral bleaching affecting most of the planet’s reefs.
Organizations such as the WWA, the World Meteorological Organization, and the IPCC, which are referenced, agree on something important: these events are not isolated incidents. Global warming is making them more intense, more frequent, and more damaging. Behind every figure and every event are entire communities, families, and ecosystems trying to recover.
Contribution to Environmental Protection
The management and use of natural resources depend largely on the governments in power in countries around the world, on international organizations focused on global warming, and on groups freely associated with the goal of raising awareness to reduce this damage. Thus, there are thousands and millions of people working together hand in hand to mitigate the ravages of global warming.
The positive contribution to reducing damage to the ecosystem does not necessarily have to be on a large or massive scale; it could be undertaken individually within close-knit communities, or by small businesses engaged in small-scale light manufacturing, such as agribusiness, carpentry, textiles, leather goods, or blacksmithing.
Even though these economic sectors do not represent the majority in Latin America, if they adopt best practices in their production processes, they can be considered agents of change.
Discussions about environmentally friendly production have been shown in many studies to be a controversial topic, because any product made through the exploitation of a natural resource leaves a footprint or impact on that resource; therefore, what is required to make sustainable use of a natural resource and be environmentally friendly is a commitment to mitigate or offset that impact.
Generally speaking, this can be summarized as implementing best practices in production processes and verifying the traceability of the raw materials used, as the most relevant actions.
This entire introduction is very important for describing the significance of developing, creating, or producing wooden urns that are environmentally friendly and respectful of the environment a very broad topic. However, the objective of this article is to explain it briefly, taking a look at all the steps involved in their production.
Why is a wooden urn said to be environmentally friendly?
Therefore, stating that a wooden urn is environmentally friendly implies:
- The wood used must originate from forest plantations or from sustainably managed forests. The wood supplier must have documentation supporting traceability and must be certified and/or legally established. In summary, it is said that, throughout the wood processing value chain from the harvester to the processor to the manufacturer of the final product all parties must comply with the laws and regulations of the country of origin.
- The materials used to finish the final product that is, the urn must be of natural origin, such as beeswax, tung oil, and linseed oil, to name a few. These are products that, when the decision is made to bury the urn, reintegrate into nature more easily.
- It is important to include recycled materials such as cardboard in packaging materials, minimize plastic wrap, use organic textiles, cotton cords or ties, and evaluate all available options to ensure packaging that reflects environmental responsibility.
- It is said that a wooden urn is environmentally friendly, not only because of the materials it is made of, but also because of the production processes used to manufacture it and the workforce involved, directly or indirectly, in the production process.
- The workforce must be trained to understand the importance of sustainable wood use, conserving electricity and drinking water, proper waste management, and knowing how to handle small-dimension wood scraps to donate them as raw material for other production chains such as organic composting as well as the proper use of protective equipment; a healthy workforce helps mitigate environmental damage.
- As part of mitigating environmental impacts and implementing best practices, it is important to consider the use of solar panels so that the consumption of conventional electricity used to operate machinery and equipment is offset by solar energy.
- A wooden urn can last for a long time in a home; however, if it is buried, the wood and its natural finish will degrade over several years depending on the type of wood and the environment. Nevertheless, relatively quickly, it will return to becoming organic matter once again, reintegrating into nature.
- Regarding shipping logistics, it is important that the supplier takes steps to mitigate environmental impact related to fuel consumption and carbon emissions, and that its overall practices in this area are widely known and transparent.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this article closes by stating that there are many and varied actions and measures to consider, some of which are being implemented by large social groups, companies, or communities, down to the individual level, and that all these actions add up and contribute to change; and on the other hand, it makes clear that there is real damage that can be mitigated and offset in small businesses or startups, through the implementation of best practices in production and logistics processes.
The responsible use of wood resources, and a commitment to ensuring that the team is informed and motivated to understand that caring for the land they inhabit is their responsibility because even small actions will ensure quality of life for them and for future generations.